In their quest for survival, harmful microbes often turn to our bodies as their nutrient source. By breaking down our cells and tissues, they extract the nutrients they need, resulting in the symptoms and damage associated with infections. As microbes feed and multiply, they interfere with normal bodily functions, leading to illness.
For an infection to take hold, microbes must first enter the bloodstream, which serves as the “highway” to all parts of the body, from the brain and heart to the liver. They initially breach protective barriers like the skin, nasal passages, or gut lining, which are our body’s first line of defense.
Breaching our Barriers
The initial symptoms of an infection, like a runny nose or sore throat, are signs that the pathogen is trying to break through these barriers to reach the bloodstream. The stronger our barriers the less likely the pathogen can break through to the bloodstream. That’s why healing the gut lining can be the strongest defense against microbes.
Once microbes breach these barriers and enter the bloodstream, they encounter the immune system’s white blood cells, which act like vigilant sentries. These cells patrol the bloodstream and tissue spaces, ready to engage invaders. However, some microbes have sophisticated ways to avoid detection and destruction, enabling them to evade the immune system and penetrate deep into the body’s tissues.
Common Latent Infections:
- Viral: Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Human Herpesvirus (HHV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)
- Bacterial: Lyme disease (Borrelia), Bartonella, Mycoplasma, Streptococcus
- Fungal: Candida, Mold Colonization
- Parasites: Babesia, Toxoplasmosis
Chronic Infections and the Role of Inflammation
Chronic infections, particularly those that remain latent like Lyme disease and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), can persistently drive the body into a state of low-grade inflammation. While these infections may not always present with acute symptoms, the ongoing immune response they provoke can silently exacerbate systemic inflammation over time.
Left unaddressed, these latent infections can fuel the very mechanisms that perpetuate PANS/PANDAS symptoms, including anxiety, OCD, and neuropsychiatric flare-ups.
By contributing to widespread inflammation, these infections hinder the body’s ability to heal, creating an environment where immune dysregulation persists.
Biofilms—The Microbe’s Shield
A particularly crafty defense mechanism used by microbes is the creation of biofilms. Biofilms are mucous-like substances that act as a shield, hiding the microbes from immune surveillance. Safely behind the biofilm, these microbes can lie dormant for years, evading detection and eradication. They may resurface and trigger illness when the body is under significant stress, such as during serious illness or times of emotional strain.
These pathogens are opportunistic—they wait until our immune system is taking a beating to come out of hiding.
When they do, they release enzymes that break down connective tissue around our barriers, making it easier for more pathogens to enter the bloodstream. This tissue damage often causes symptoms common to autoimmune diseases—brain fog, joint pain, fatigue, headaches, anxiety, and other systemic issues.
Read more below for a deeper dive.