What a fabulous day. I enjoyed listening to some amazingly knowledgable people at the inaugural RISA conference at the Brisbane Convention Centre. The conference entitled, “Infant Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease and its Complications” was a wealth of information regarding this disease that is surprisingly common in children. As many as 8% of children are affected and an even higher percentage of infants – possibly even as high as 20%. These children live with pain and discomfort and a variety of other  problems every day of their lives. The families who live with this are under immense stress trying to manage a child that does not feed or sleep well. These children are also more likely to have co-occurring allergies further impacting on the stress levels of their families.

So, seeing as you weren’t all at the conference I thought I would just share with you a gem or two from each speaker!

1. Professor Geoffrey Cleghorn (Paediatric Gastroenterologist). “Often the symptoms of GORD, especially in infants, are indistinguishable from food intolerance.” He also shared a wealth of information regarding the medical management of GORD, especially medication options and their associated evidence base.
2. Professor Pete Smith (Paediatric Immunologist). “The rate of cow’s milk protein intolerance in children a few decades ago was approximately 3%, it is now approximately 22%.” He outlined the different biochemical processes involved in intolerance and allergy and provided useful treatment recommendations.
3. Dr Richard Muir (Paediatric Gastroenterologist). “In Eosinophillic Oesophagitis air and food allergens seem to drive the inflammation and fibrosis”. This condition which affects approximately 2 in 10,000 people is a debilitating and painful disease that affects the oesophagus (the tube that food travels along to get from our mouth to our stomach).
4. Dr Looi Ee (Paediatric Gastrolenterologist). “Firstly fortify oral intake and only if that fails resort to tube feeding”. This well structure presentation regarding children who are unable to maintain adequate growth and weight explained the different types of tube feeding methods and how to select the most appropriate method and food as well as when and how to wean children off tube feeds.
5. Nicole Dennis (Dietitian). “We need to consider the growth of the child over time not as an isolated event.” Nicole explained the nutritional management of paediatric reflux and nutritional interventions for food allergy.
6. Dr Sandra McMahon (Speech Pathologist). “The parent provided the food, the child decides what and how much they will eat.” It was great to catch up with Sandra who was actually one of my lecturers at University many years ago! She outlined some of the myths associated with eating and explained why they are false. Her presentation also reinforced to me the importance of treating not only the sensory aspects of eating but equally as important the oral motor skills that are essential for successful feeding.
7. Vivienne Williams (Occupational Therapist). “Kids need to be at the ‘just right’ level of arousal in order to be ready and able to eat”. Vivienne is passionate about sensory processing disorders and provided some practical strategies to be able to assist children in achieving and maintaining the “just right” level of arousal to optimise mealtimes.
8. Dr Deborah Bailey (Paediatric General Surgeon). “I am a surgeon and I love to perform surgery! BUT… Surgery should only be considered in infants and children with defined complications and failure to respond to medical, non-invasive and dietary management.” Dr Bailey explained simply and comprehensively the Fundoplication procedure and how it is performed as well as the complications and outcomes of surgical treatment of infant GORD.
9. Jessica Tovey (RISA Volunteer – mother of a child with GORD). “My children have never slept a night in their lives. A few months ago I finally threw away all the tubes and that was a great moment.” A fitting end to a great day was Jessica’s frank sharing of her experience as a mother of 2 children with GORD. She was met with extended warm applause as a lasting demonstration of everyone’s appreciation for sharing why we were all their today which is to be able to help children with GORD and their families.

The Reflux Infants Support Association Inc (RISA) who hosted the event are a great support option for parents of children affected by reflux. Their website is www.reflux.org.au