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When Joan McCullough’s daughter was 8 years old, she developed a motor tic involving her fingers.

The Wilton mom noticed the involuntary movement was similar to that of her friend’s son, who had been diagnosed two years earlier with PANDAS — pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections.

Though McCullough had been a registered nurse for more than 20 years, this was her first time hearing about the disorder that describes children and adolescents who have obsessive compulsive disorder and/or tic disorders with severe accompanying symptoms — like anxiety, concentration problems and severely restricted food intake — that worsen as a result of untreated strep infections such as strep throat.

Isle of Wight medical volunteers and parents are hoping to raise funds and awareness for two very rare conditions that can devastate families if diagnoses or treatment is not forthcoming. Little is known about PANDAS and PANS in the UK, but this campaign hopes to change that.

A panel of leading clinicians and researchers across various general and specialty pediatric fields developed comprehensive treatment recommendations to help guide the management of youngsters with a broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric conditions defined by the terms Pediatric Acute Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and PAN Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infection (PANDAS).