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This article provides an overview of advanced therapies for the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children, with a focus on the Australasian perspective. The rates of IBD in Australasian children have been increasing, and early diagnosis and optimal management are crucial for their well-being. The article discusses different therapeutic interventions, including nutritional, medical, and surgical options. It also highlights the unique needs of children with IBD and the challenges they face in accessing advanced therapies. While there is promise in these therapies, access for children and adolescents with IBD is currently limited, particularly in Australasia. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of ongoing research and the development of local data and experience in the use of advanced therapies for children with IBD. [Extracted from the article]

The Specific Carbohydrate diet (SCD) is an exclusion diet widely popular among patients with IBD, which restricts carbohydrates and processed foods. Two recently concluded controlled studies PRODUCE (Personalized Research on Diet in Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease) and DINE-CD (The Diet to Induce Remission in Crohn's disease) confirm efficacy of SCD on symptom control but fail to demonstrate a sustained anti-inflammatory response. These dietary studies are a welcome addition to a poorly understood field of dietary management of IBD, we explore some practical challenges including trial designs, recruitment, and retention in long term dietary intervention studies. Future dietary intervention studies should, therefore, incorporate endoscopic end points to establish a true anti-inflammatory response to elimination diets, preferably with detailed multi-omics analysis to understand mechanism of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paediatric‐onset inflammatory bowel disease (PO‐IBD) is associated with greater morbidity compared to adult‐onset IBD. However, as not all children with PO‐IBD will have poor outcome and the best management decisions involve weighing risks versus benefit and wishes of patient's and family, we review risk factors of IBD progression in children and summarise rapidly expanding treatment choices, potential drug‐related adverse events and risk minimisation strategies, ending with new treatment paradigms focusing on long‐term goal of intestinal healing. For the purpose of this article, we have outlined the conventional approach, including medications currently licenced and available for use in Australia for paediatric IBD through the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme and briefly discuss other promising therapies that are shown to be effective in adults but are undergoing paediatric clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Impact of first-line induction therapy on medium-term outcomes in the setting of early thiopurine (TP) use in children with Crohn's disease has not been evaluated, in particular whether choice of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) over corticosteroids (CS) for induction impacts clinical outcomes at 12 and 24 months.Aims and Methods: In this retrospective study, 89 children from our database with new diagnosis CD and follow-up of at least 2 years following induction with exclusive course of CS or EEN and early, dose-optimized TP (within 6 months from diagnosis) were evaluated. We compared steroid dependency (relapse <3 months of tapering first course CS or inability to wean <10 mg prednisolone), need for IFX, linear growth, and surgical resections over the first 2 years.Results: Choice of EEN over CS induction was associated with reduced linear growth failure (7 vs. 26%, p = 0.02), CS dependency (7 vs. 43%, p = 0.002), and improved primary sustained response to IFX (86 vs. 68%, p = 0.02). Combined CS/IFX-free remission and surgical resection rates were similar.Conclusion: In the setting of early TP commencement, EEN induction is superior to CS induction for reducing growth failure, CS dependency, and loss of response to IFX over the first 2 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) induces clinical and mucosal healing (MH) in Crohn's disease (CD), with MH the best determinant of future outcome. We investigated efficacy of EEN for inducing early clinical, biochemical, mucosal and transmural remission of CD and related early endoscopic response to outcomes at 1 year. Methods: In a prospective, open label study 34 children (mean 13.1 years; 21 males) with new diagnosis CD were offered EEN, 26 completed a minimum 6 weeks EEN and underwent paired clinical, biochemical and endoscopic assessment at start and completion using PCDAI, BMI, CRP and Simple Endoscopic Score for CD (SES-CD). A subset, 16/26, had paired MR enterography scored. Early good endoscopic response (complete MH, or near complete, SES-CD 0-3) was related to outcome at 1 year. Results: EEN improved mean PCDAI (37.88-7.01, p < 0.001; BMI Z scores (−1.54 to −0.54, p < 0.01); weight Z score (−0.79 to −0.08, p < 0.03); CRP (44.86-5.5, p < 0.001); endoscopy (SES-CD 14.28-3.88, p < 0.001) and MRE (5.14-2.79, p = 0.01). Of 26 children, 22 (84 %) achieved clinical remission; 20 (76 %) biochemical remission. Fifteen (58 %) had early good endoscopic response (11 complete, 4 near complete MH) and 3/14 (21 %) had complete transmural remission of ileal CD (MRE-CD: 0-1). Early good endoscopic response was associated with reduced endoscopic confirmed relapse (53 vs. 100 %, p = 0.02), anti-TNF use (33 vs. 88 %, p = 0.01) and hospitalisation (40 vs. 88 %) at 1 year. Conclusions: EEN is effective for inducing early clinical, biochemical, mucosal and transmural remission. Early endoscopic remission improves outcomes at 1 year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses tube feeding. Nutritional aid using feeding tubes (nasogastric, gastrostomy or jejunostomy tubes) has eased survival and transition to out-of-hospital care for big numbers of children over the past thirty years, with enhanced growth and quality of life, including transition to school.

Aim Infant colic is a frequent problem affecting up to 10-30% of infants in first 3 months of life. Results from previous trials have shown that manipulation of gut microbiota can lead to symptomatic improvements. In a randomised clinical trial, we aimed to determine efficacy of synbiotic in reducing average infant crying time at day 7 and day 30 after starting intervention. Methods Fifty breastfed infants aged 15-120 days with infantile colic randomly assigned to receive either the synbiotic sachet containing 1 billion CFU of: L actobacillus casei, L . rhamnosus, S treptococcus thermophilus, B ifidobacterium breve, L . acidophilus, B . infantis, L . bulgaricus and fructooligosacharide ( Protexin Healthcare, Somerset, UK), or placebo daily for 30 days. Parents were asked to record details of crying times in a symptoms diary. The primary outcome measure was the treatment success (reduction in the daily crying time >50%) and the secondary outcome measure was symptom resolution (reduction in the daily crying time >90%). Results The treatment success was significantly higher in synbiotic group (82.6%) compared with placebo (35.7%) at day 7 ( P < 0.005). At day30, treatment success was 87% and 46% in synbiotic and placebo group, respectively ( P < 0.01). Symptom resolution was also higher in synbiotic group (39%) compared with placebo (7%) at day 7 ( P < 0.03) but not at day 30 (56% vs.36%, P = 0.24). We encountered no complication related to synbiotic use. Conclusion This synbiotic (a mixture of seven probiotic strains plus FOS) significantly improved colic symptoms in comparison with placebo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosis of chronic disease in a child can result in unresolved grief (UG) in parents. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of psychological insight-oriented therapy (IOT) as a treatment for UG compared to disease related education in parents of children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Sequence of delivery, first IOT then disease related education (or vice versa) was also examined, to let all participants experience both interventions. Parents were screened for UG. Parents with UG were randomised to either five 1-h sessions of IOT or five 1-h sessions of education. Measures were assessed pre-intervention, after the first intervention period (primary efficacy assessment), and after the second intervention period (swapping intervention). Forty-seven parents were screened of which 46.8% (22/47) had UG. Median duration of UG was 5 years (range: 6 months–14 years). Anxiety (50% vs. 20%, p = 0.03) and stress (59% vs. 28%, p = 0.03) were significantly more prevalent in parents with UG. There was no difference between arms in the odds of UG resolving either following the first intervention period (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.5, 1.5) or the second intervention period (OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.5, 1.6). While not statistically significant, adjusted mean values for seven of the eight mental health measures were lower in the IOT (first) arm compared to the ED (first) arm, following the first intervention period. UG is a significant burden for families affected by CF. Provision of disease related education and psychological support, regardless of sequence, can result in resolution of grief. Trial registration number: ACTRN12621000796886, date of registration 24/06/2021, retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Initial response to corticosteroids (CS) is recognized as a strong predictor of outcomes in ulcerative colitis (UC).Aim: To compare outcomes of early poor responders (PR) versus good responders (GR) to initial CS at 1, 2, and 3 years from diagnosis.Methods: In this retrospective study, we report longitudinal outcomes of children with moderate-severe UC, initiating oral/IV CS < 1 month of diagnosis and a minimum follow-up (FU) of 1 year. CS resistance (CSR) and CS dependency (CSD) were combined as PR, and those with CS-free remission (CSFR) at 6 months were GR.Results: Of 116 children with UC, 76 (33 males) fulfilled study criteria. Median age at diagnosis was 12 years (IQR 12-14), and a median FU was 48 months (IQR 27-65). Thirty-five (46%, CSR = 10, CSD = 25) were PR, and 41 (54%) were GR. Mean relapse (2.39 vs. 1.1, p = 0.0009), acute severe UC flare-up (40% vs. 9.7%, p = 0.002), and colectomy rates (34.2% vs. 2.4%) were greater in PR versus GR, despite frequent early (< 6 months) use of azathioprine (74% vs. 27%, p = 0.004) and anti-TNFs (43% vs. 2.4%, p = 0.0001). Cumulative colectomy at 3 years was lowest in those with GR versus CSD and CSR (2.4% vs. 28% and 50% p = 0.001). On univariate analysis, CRP > 20 mg/L at diagnosis, Mayo Clinical Score > 1 at 3 months, and PR predicted colectomy. On multivariate regression, only baseline CRP > 20 mg/L predicted colectomy (HR 4.9, p = 0.03).Conclusions: Baseline CRP and poor response to initial CS are associated with unfavorable outcomes in children with UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder in children. Recently, probiotics have been suggested as a treatment option for gastrointestinal disorders. The most effective species and the most appropriate doses are still unknown. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Lactobacillus GG (LGG) for treating IBS in pediatric patients. Methods: In a controlled, double blind, randomized trial, patients with IBS diagnosed by Rome III criteria from August 2012 to September 2012 at Dr. Sheikh Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, were assigned to one of two groups, i.e., intervention and control groups. For four weeks, the intervention group received a probiotic in capsule form that contained LGG at a concentration of 1×1010 cfu/ml bacteria. For the same period, the control group received a placebo capsule that had the same shape and color but only contained inulin, which also was present in the LGG capsules. The primary outcome was any change in the severity of the patients' pain, and we used a five-point Likert scale to evaluate the severity of their pain. Secondary outcomes were ghanges of the functional scale, stool patterns, and associated problems. Results: Fifty-two patients participated in the study, and 26 patients were assigned randomly to each of the two groups. The severity of the patients' pain decreased significantly in the intervention group after one, two, three, and four weeks of treatment, as indicated by P-values of 0.01, 0.00, 0.00, and 0.00, respectively. Also, there was significant improvement in the functional scale after two weeks of treatment (P-value = 0.00). Conclusion: Lactobacillus GG at a concentration of 1×1010 cfu/ml for a period of four weeks can lessen the severity of the patients' pain and improve the functional scale in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Probiotics can have therapeutic effects for IBS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]