Children's Health

 Many patients come to us seeking help with the following conditions:  

• Anxiety and nervousness
• Sleep concerns
• Asthma
• Allergies
• Behavioural challenges
• Colic
• Constipation or loose stool
• Tummy aches and digestive upset
• Eczema
• Growth delay
• Mood changes
• OCD
• Immune health 
• Recurrent infections (ears, nose/sinus, throat, colds, bladder, yeast)
• ADHD
• Autism
• PANS / PANDAS
• Lyme & co-infections

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a broad range of conditions impacting, communication, behaviour, social skills and development.  Challenges involving speech, nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviours may also be seen.

In Canada, the prevalence of ASD is 1 in 66 Canadian children and youth (ages 5-17). Males are four times more likely to receive an ASD diagnosis compared to females. 

Interestingly, patients with ASD have higher rates of epilepsy, sleep concerns, digestive issues, sensory sensitivities and impaired metabolism of food needed for energy for cellular function, particularly brain cell function.  They may also experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  All of which offer clues to underlying imbalances.  

There is no known cause for ASD and research suggests a multifactorial etiology.  As Naturopathic Doctors we investigate underlying factors that may be contributing to your child’s ASD. 

Factors we assess include:

• Autoimmunity affecting brain and nervous system
• Brain chemistry and neurotransmitters
• Detoxification pathways
• Mitochondrial function
• Hormones for metabolism, growth, stress
• Genetics
• Gastrointestinal health
• Heavy metals, environmental toxins, porphyrins

Using a biomedical approach we work on supporting the overall health of the nervous system, cognitive function, detoxification pathways, gut and immune health.

Testing options:

• Organic acids, mitochondrial and neurotransmitter testing
• Food sensitivity testing
• Histamine testing
• Heavy metal analysis
• Stool analysis (digestion, absorption, yeast, bacteria, parasites)
• Testing for chronic infections (dysbiosis, yeast/fungus, viral, bacteria, parasites, SIBO, lyme and co-infections)
• Environmental chemical exposure
• Blood chemistry
• Hormone testing (thyroid, cortisol)
• Immune testing
• Lipid testing
• Urine testing
• Genetic testing, methylation and MTHFR
  

Supportive treatment options include herbal medicine, homeopathic medicine, diet modification, toxic metal removal, antimicrobial therapy, and nutraceutical supplementation.

PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) 

PANS is an umbrella term for a group of acute-onset cases of OCD. Possible triggers may be infectious (e.g. Mycoplasma, EBV, Varicella, Lyme and co-infections) or non-infectious (psychosocial stressors).

PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal infection) 

PANDAS is a subset of PANS that is associated with Group A Beta-Hemolytic streptococcal infections (e.g. strep throat, perianal strep, strep impetigo, streptococcal pneumonia, Scarlet fever).  However, not every child with a PANDAS diagnosis has a confirmed positive strep test history.

PANS/PANDAS are waxing and remitting conditions with recurrent flares that typically affect children between the ages of 3 to 14. Current theories related to the etiology of PANS include the possibility of immune cells in the brain (neuroglia) triggering brain inflammation or an antibody cross-reaction with a special part of the brain called the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia affect behaviour, emotion, learning, cognition, sensory and motor function, all of which may be impacted and produce many of the symptoms commonly seen during a flare. In the case of PANDAS, a similar autoimmune reaction may be occurring that is likely triggered by a Group A strep antibody cross-reaction with brain tissue that also produces neuropsychiatric symptoms.

A child affected by PANS or PANDAS often presents with an abrupt onset of symptoms that may include any of the following:

• Obsessive Compulsive Behaviours (very common)
• Eating restriction (very common)
• Generalized anxiety 
• Separation anxiety
• Emotional lability (including irritability, aggression or depression episodes, inability to control tears or laughter)
• Irritability, aggression or oppositional behaviours
• Developmental or behavioural regression (e.g. baby talk, tantrums)
• Deterioration of school performance 
• Sensory issues (sound, smells, light, clothing)
• Motor abnormalities (e.g. motor or vocal tics)
• Decreased ability to concentrate and/or hyperactivity
• Acute changes in sleep problems
• Urinary issues (increased frequency, bed wetting or daytime enuresis)

Testing may be required and may include:

• Strep cultures and swabs (throat, oral, nasal, perianal, stool) 
• Antibody titres (ASOT, Anti-DNase B Antibody)
• Cunningham Panel
• Food sensitivity testing and histamine testing
• Testing for infections – viral, bacterial etc.
• ANA autoimmune testing
• Stool testing – microbiome assessment, parasites, yeast, bacteria, 
• Organic acids and neurotransmitter testing
• Celiac testing

A supportive naturopathic treatment plan may include herbal antimicrobials, anti-biofilm agents, natural anti-inflammatories, probiotics, immune support and gut healing and repair. 

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

ADHD is a condition that typically begins in adolescence and is characterized by problems with attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Children may be predominantly inattentive having difficulty sustaining attention, making careless mistakes, forgetting, and showing disinterest when mental effort is required. Alternatively, children may be predominantly hyperactive having difficulty obeying rules, talking excessively, fidgeting, and always moving. They may also experience impulsivity demonstrated by blurting out answers, being unable to wait their turn, and interrupting others. Children may also present with a unique combination of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

A genetic predisposition has been documented. Approximately 50% of children with ADHD also have a parent who has a history of ADHD symptoms. Other causes of ADHD may include decreased blood flow to the brain (prefrontal cortex and limbic system), a reduced arousal of the nervous system, decreased glucose metabolism throughout the brain, differences or a lag in brain development. Environmental factors may also increase a child’s risk of developing ADHD including a history of brain injury, prenatal health factors (smoking, alcohol), environmental toxins such as lead (pipes, paint) and prematurity.

ADHD testing may include:

• Organic acids
• Vitamin and mineral status
• Stool testing
• Microbial assessment
• Neurotransmitter testing
• Toxic and Essential Element Testing
• Food sensitivity testing
• Histamine testing

Treatments plans are catered to the unique symptom presentation of every child with ADHD and may include diet modification, supplementation for nutrient deficiencies, detoxification and toxic metal removal, nervous system and neurotransmitter balancing, gastrointestinal treatment for weakened digestion and dysbiosis.

What to look out for?

Eczema is one of the most common conditions that presents in my office. In many instances it begins early on during infancy or later on during childhood into adulthood. Skin conditions can be uncomfortable for both children and parents and sometimes severely disruptive to one’s psychosocial growth and development. 

Let’s go beneath the skin’s surface and see what’s really going on. Assessing gut (AKA gastrointestinal) health becomes paramount here.  Your gastrointestinal tract serves two main roles. One, acting as a barrier to anything foreign that would have entered through your mouth from the outside world and two, for the digestion and absorption of nutrients from your food. It begins in your mouth, continues into the stomach and trickles down into your intestines. Your entire gut is made up of specialized cells that are tightly bound together and lined by mucus and friendly flora (AKA the microbiome). If there is a disruption in any of these, you may be at greater risk of developing eczema. 

Many parents often ask but how does this happen especially so early on in life? There can be many potential underlying factors and triggers ranging from the parent’s health preconception, microbiome inheritance, food sensitivities, environmental stressors, fatty acid deficiencies, fatty acid maldigestion, and enzyme deficiencies to name a few. 

In order to decide where to begin, a proper assessment of your gut health is necessary. We use specific tests to assess gut permeability, microbial imbalance and mucosal health. Typically, we will conduct a thorough intake, perform a physical exam and carry out in-house testing to determine a baseline for gut health. If more extensive testing is required we send out to external labs.