23/07/2026
Low iron might be part of the flare story. Here is what a 2021 study suggests.
If you parent a child with PANS, you know the shape of a flare. And you know the sinking feeling when one digs in deeper than usual and just will not lift.
A study from the Stanford PANS Clinic followed 79 children and found low ferritin (a marker of stored iron) in about 27 percent of them. Around three quarters of those low readings happened during a flare, not in the calmer stretches.
Here is the part worth sitting with. When the immune system is flaring, the body deliberately locks iron away, because inflammation does that. So a low iron result may be a clue pointing back to the inflammation itself, rather than a simple diet gap.
This is an association, not proof, and it is not a reason to start iron at home. Iron given when it is not needed can cause harm, and levels are genuinely hard to read during a flare. But it is a good question to gently bring to the people caring for your child.
We look at iron as one piece of the whole picture, alongside your child's GP and medical team. A Free 10-Minute Clarity Call is always a gentle place to start.
https://www.botanicartisan.com.au/blog/low-iron-pans-flare
