Winter is beginning to take hold, and strep throat is being spread around like holiday cheer. Sudden fevers, chills, sore throats, and a loss of appetite are all symptoms frequently associated with strep throat. But what about the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder as a result of strep throat?
The concept of strep throat causing OCD symptoms is actually not as silly as it sounds. In recent studies, a type of bacteria, Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, has been linked to the onset and worsening of OCD symptoms. This same bacteria is the cause of streptococcal infection, which often takes the form of strep throat. It is believed that the antibodies in the person’s blood react with basal ganglia structures as a result of the infection. This is the very same basal ganglia network known as the “OCD circuit” due to its associations with OCD symptoms. The infection can worsen or even begin the symptoms of OCD; when the body is fighting off the infection, it can potentially confuse healthy cells with the bacteria and cause damage to itself. These attacks are sometimes directed to the nerve cells in the basal ganglia. As a result of the damage in the basal ganglia, individuals without OCD may begin to experience symptoms while those with OCD may have their behaviors exacerbated. Symptoms will usually manifest within one to two weeks.
What does this mean for the readers out there who suddenly feels a lump in their throat? Probably not much. While cases have been documented by researchers, these cases are exceedingly rare. If OCD symptoms do occur, there has been some research collected that states the symptoms may not exist for very long and will eventually subside and disappear.
~Wilson
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