LeRoy, N.Y.--Weeks after hearing from doctors that their daughters were suffering from a neurological condition known as conversion disorder, two parents tell 13WHAM News they have been told of a different possibility.
Some of the girls are being treated by Child Neurologist Rosario Trifiletti, an independent expert.
Dr. Trifiletti said five of the eight girls he tested show
evidence of Streptococcus Pyogenes (common Group A strep) and seven of eight girls show evidence of an infection from Mycoplasma Pneumonia (the bacteria that causes walking pneumonia).
He said both of these bacterium have been associated with a PANDAS-like illness, which suddenly contributes to motor and vocal tics.
"He said they don't have conversion disorder, I can tell you that," said Don Miller, parent of Katie Krautwurst, one of the LeRoy teens suffering from tics and twitching.
Miller said he was given a diagnosis of an infection but would not elaborate.
A parent of another teen suffering from similar symptoms in LeRoy said he had heard the same thing.
Dr. Trifiletti said he's treating the girls with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine.
Saturday, the LeRoy School District fielded questions from community members during a morning meeting.
Many expressed frustration over a lack of transparency and lack of answers.
The school district and state have reiterated that the condition afflicting these girls is not infectious or environmental.
"That's a question for the private physician who provided the diagnosis," said Jeffrey Hammond, spokesman for the New York State Department of Health.
