Delilah Hamlin Wiki, Biography
RHOBH alum Lisa Rinna’s daughter Delilah Belle Hamlin opened up about her struggles with PANDAS in a recent Instagram story on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. She posted a photo of herself with an IV in her arm and recounts details on how to deal with chronic illness since she was a child in an effort to spread awareness among her fans and supporters.
Delilah is the eldest daughter of former RHOBH cast member Lisa Rinna and actor Harry Hamlin. She was diagnosed with PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) and has also dealt with other health conditions throughout her life, including encephalitis, Epstein-Barr virus, and Lyme disease. .
A child may be diagnosed with PANDAS when obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or tic disorder, or both, develops after strep throat or fever. It can also be diagnosed when its symptoms worsen over time.
Read on below to learn more about PANDAS.
Exploring the description, diagnosis, and treatment of PANDAS
While PANDAS symptoms differ from child to child, they are usually dramatic and unexpected. These include panic attacks, tics, obsessions, and compulsions. Many children become moody or develop anxiety at the thought of being separated from their parents.
Streptococcal bacteria are ancient organisms that have been inside the human body for a long time. They manage to avoid detection by creating molecules in their cell walls that are almost similar to molecules found in a child’s heart, skin, joints, and other parts of the body. This phenomenon is called “molecular mimicry.”
When these molecules realize they are foreign to the body, a child’s immune system reacts abruptly by producing antibodies. However, due to molecular mimicry, the antibodies also attack the mimicked molecules in the child’s tissues, creating “cross-reactive” antibodies.
According to the Mental Health Information website, PANDAS is considered a pediatric disorder that appears from age 3 to puberty. Health care providers can conclude the diagnosis with the help of the following symptoms:
RHOBH Alumna Lisa Rinna’s Daughter Opens Up About Her Health
Delilah took to her Instagram story and opened up about her health issues related to chronic illnesses and autoimmune diseases. She said:
“I haven’t really talked about my health lately, [and] if you’re new here, you’re probably confused, but for the last few years, I’ve been struggling with autoimmune/chronic disease issues that I’ve been quietly fighting and beating. It’s definitely been difficult both mentally and physically.
The RHOBH alum’s eldest daughter, however, confessed that she refrained from posting about her health issues because she didn’t want people to cast her in a “sick” role, but she ultimately decided against it. She wanted to share her story of strength, perseverance and patience with the world. Delilah further said:
- Presence of OCD or a Tic
- Onset of symptoms
- Episodic course and timeline of occurrence
- Strep infection or scarlet fever
- Physical hyperactivity, anxiety, jerky movements
- Worsening of Tics or panic attacks over time
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Sleeping issues
- Frequent bed-wetting or urination
- Changes in handwriting
- Separation anxiety and joint pains
- Treatment options for a child struggling with PANDAS include antibiotics to cure strep infection after a throat culture documents the presence of strep bacteria.
“When you feel like the pressure is too much, it’s because you’re stronger than you think. You’ll never find out how strong you really are until you’re faced with the pressure you’ve never faced. It may seem unbearable, but the fact that God has allowed means you can handle it.”
In 2019, Lisa shared that her daughter’s PANDAS diagnosis led to Delilah having “severe anxiety and multiple phobias.” Still, they were able to find effective therapy solutions for her to get better over time. In November 2021, Delilah opened up about having an accidental overdose that landed her in the hospital.
Following the incident, her family sent her to a treatment center in Arizona, according to a PEOPLE report. However, she was “politely asked to leave” after being labeled a “medical risk”.
Delilah has been following the treatment at home and her healing process has continued. She completed six months of sobriety in February 2022.
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