Pediatrics & HBOT

While previously a mystery, PANDAS/PANS is becoming more understood within the medical community. We now know that symptoms can occur after exposure to bacteria, fungi, toxins, or a virus. If left unnoticed/untreated, these conditions will often take the opportunity to stay undetected within the immune system, usually within a plaque-like bacteria called biofilm. Further exposure can then easily trigger a flare-up. 

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Symptoms of a PANDAS/PANS flare-up include: lethargy, fatigue, joint pain, fever, and in many cases, a sudden onset of severe OCD.

 

According to the International Hyperbarics Association, HBOT has demonstrated the ability to decrease acute/chronic inflammation, remediate joint pain, and to break up and kill biofilm. [1]

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1. International Hyperbarics Association. (2022). PANDAS/PANS & Hyperbarics [Brochure]. International Hyperbarics Association. 

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of our cells, turning sugar and oxygen into energy, and is how our cells work properly. When this process fails to happen, mitochondrial disease becomes a reality and can result in symptoms such as poor growth, loss of muscle coordination/weakness, neurological issues (such as seizures), autism spectrum disorder, vision or hearing loss, developmental delays, diabetes, and others. 

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The International Hyperbarics Association lists these as the demonstrated benefits of HBOT in relation to the symptoms associated with pediatric mitochondrial disease: decreased risk of infection, reduction in gastrointestinal issues, decreased inflammation, enhanced nutritional absorption, enhanced cognitive function, lessens frequency of seizures, improves balance and walking, enhances speech and language, and alleviates spasticity. [1]

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1. International Hyperbarics Association. (2022). Pediatric Mitochondrial Disease & Hyperbarics [Brochure]. International Hyperbarics Association. 

Pediatric strokes are rare, occurring in one of every 4,000 newborns, and an additional 2,000 older children annually. Pediatric strokes can be caused by insufficient blood flow or by bleeding within the brain. [1]

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According to the International Hyperbarics Association, HBOT has demonstrated the ability to help in stroke prevention and recovery by improving artery health, decreasing oxidative stress in the brain, stimulating angiogenesis, alleviating spasticity, enhancing stem cell proliferation/mobilization, escalating neuroplasticity, improving aphasia, reducing paralysis, and more. [1]

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1. International Hyperbarics Association. (2022). Pediatric Stroke & Hyperbarics [Brochure]. International Hyperbarics Association. 

According to the IHA, over 11,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer annually. Additionally, cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide. [1] 

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New and integrated treatments are being explored to help combat the effects of this disease and its traditional treatments. Most recently, there has been research demonstrating the benefits of utilizing HBOT in conjunction with conventional cancer treatments.

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According to the International Hyperbarics Association, some of those reported benefits include reducing tumor aggressiveness, increasing natural killer cell activity, enhancing the previously mentioned "conventional" cancer therapies and reducing the side effects, among others. [1]

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1. International  Hyperbarics Association. (2022). Pediatric Cancer & Hyperbarics [Brochure]. International Hyperbarics Association. 

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affect millions of Americans, most of whom were diagnosed before the age of 35. Unfortunately, this chronic condition can be treated but not cured, and can significantly impact the quality of an individual's life. 

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Some of the symptoms of IBD include diarrhea, bleeding, weight loss, anemia, and abdominal pain. Because IBD cannot be cured, treatment usually focuses on symptom management, and for some, may require a bowel resection. 

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There has been recent research reflecting HBOT as showing promise in the reduction of some of these key symptoms, and subsequently, helping to improve upon one's quality of life.

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The International Hyperbarics Association has reported that HBOT has been shown to help normalize bowel movements, decrease pain/inflammation, and to help in the healing process by decreasing edema, lowering infection rates, restore GI flora, increasing blood flow to damaged tissues, and more. [1]

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1. International Hyperbarics Association. (2022). Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Diseases & Hyperbarics [Brochure]. International Hyperbaric Association. 

A traumatic brain injury can happen to any individual, no matter their age, and is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. According to the statistics given by the CDC, in 2019, there were 223,135 TBI-related hospitalizations, and 69,473 TBI -related deaths, resulting in approximately 190 TBI-related deaths per day. [1]

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While traumatic brain injuries can happen anytime, anywhere, some groups might be at a greater risk of dying from this injury or experiencing long-term health problems.

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As reported by the International Hyperbarics Association, HBOT has demonstrated the ability to help enhance the recovery from TBI, and augment brain activity by reducing hypoxia and neuroinflammation, while also increasing circulation within the brain. HBOT may also help to enhance speech and language, improve gross and fine motor skills, and lessen the frequency of seizures, among other benefits. [2]

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1. TBI Data | Concussion | Traumatic Brain Injury | CDC Injury Center. (n.d.). https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/data

2. International Hyperbarics Association. (2022). Pediatric TBI & Hyperbarics [Brochure]. International Hyperbarics Association. 

The CDC has identified that 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and this occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. [1]

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Due to this increase in ASD diagnoses, more and more parents are turning to alternative forms of treatments to help counteract the underlying symptoms. While traditional treatments have often failed to produce the desired outcome, recent studies are showing that HBOT has demonstrated an ability to ameliorate the effects of ASD. 

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According to the International Hyperbarics Association, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been reported to help improve physical function, advance mental function, improve behavioral function, improve digestion, and to enhance brain healing and repair by reducing inflammation and promoting neurogenesis, among other benefits. [2] 

 

1.  Data and Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder | CDC. (2023, May 12). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

2. International Hyperbarics Association. (2022). Pediatric Autism & Hyperbarics [Brochure]. International Hyperbarics Association.  

According to the data reported by the CDC, about 1 in 345 children in the United States have been identified with cerebral palsy, making it the most common motor disability in childhood. [1]

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This group of disorders is characterized by the affect it has on an individual's mobility, movement, balance, and posture. Often, CP results in the need for life-long assistance and care. The CDC also lists co-occurring developmental disabilities such as epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder as being common additional diagnoses.  [1]

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As reported by the International Hyperbarics Association, HBOT has demonstrated an ability to help ameliorate the symptoms of cerebral palsy by helping to improve upon gross/fine motor skills, enhancing speech and language, lessening the frequency of seizures, and enhancing neurological regeneration and repair by promoting neurogenesis, enhancing stem cell mobilization/proliferation, and escalating neuroplasticity. [2]

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1. Data and Statistics for Cerebral Palsy | CDC. (2020, December 30). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/data.html

2. International Hyperbarics Association. (2022). Pediatric Cerebral Palsy & Hyperbarics [Brochure]. International Hyperbarics Association.