Strep may be linked to disruptive behaviors

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Feb. 8 (UPI) -- University of Florida researchers found that after numerous strep infections in a public school system there was a rise in disruptive behaviors.

A direct link between strep infections and behavioral symptoms was not found, but the statistics did indicate an association that warrants further investigation, according to Dr. Tanya Murphy, an associate professor of psychiatry in the College of Medicine.

In an eight-month study of 693 children in a Florida public school system, University of Florida researchers found that shortly after the number of strep infections in the group increased, there was a corresponding rise in involuntary movements and disruptive behaviors -- symptoms that could indicate a neurological cause.

"During the fall months when there are more strep infections, after a short time lag, there are increased behavioral symptoms -- enough to indicate an association," said Murphy. "We did not assess the children for particular neuropsychiatric disorders, so we're not saying actual disorders were present in the children, but the symptoms were there."

The findings are published in the Journal of Biological Psychiatry.