Hello and welcome to Jo Joyner and Lucy McDonald's podcast on PANS/PANDAS.

In this introduction to the first series of the PANS/PANDAS Stories, Jo and Lucy discuss how they met and how a shared interest in brain health led to a podcast about this devastating illness.

Over six episodes, they meet children and families affected and the doctors and experts who treat them.

PANS/PANDAS stands for Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Dysfunction/(associated with Strep). It is a neuropsychiatric disorder caused by a virus, bacteria or pathogen attacking the brain, whose symptoms include OCD, anxiety, tics and seizures.

Episodes air on a Monday, and our first chat coincides with World PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day and is with the UK PANS/PANDAS Charity founder - Vicky Burford, who talks about her son's illness and incredible recovery.

See you there,

Lucy and Jo