Asthma control regime
Asthma control regime | |
Step 1: Symptoms occuring less than once a week | |
| Clinical features before treatment | Daily medication required to maintain control |
| • Occurs less than once a week • Mild simptoms • Asthma symptoms during night • Normal lung function between attacks | • Medicines to be taken as needed, orally • Intensity of treatment depends on severity of attacks |
Step 2: Mildly persistent symptoms | |
| Clinical features before treatment | Daily medication required to maintain control |
| • Symptoms more than once a week but not more than once a day • Attack may affect activity and sleep • Asthma symptoms during night more than twice a month | • Daily medications to control symptoms and an anti-inflammatory along with bronchodilator for night time symptoms |
Step 3: Moderately persistent symptoms | |
| Clinical features before treatment | Daily medication required to maintain control |
| • Daily symptoms • Attacks affect activity and sleep • Night time asthma symptoms more than once a week • Need to use inhaled medicines daily | • Daily medications for control and inhaled corticosteroid and bronchodilator especially for night time symptoms |
Step 4: Severely persistent symptoms | |
| Clinical features before treatment | Daily medication required to maintain control |
| • Continuous symptoms • Frequent attacks and night time symptoms • Physical activities limited by asthma symptoms | • Multiple daily control medications • High doses of inhaled and oral corticosteroid along with bronchodilator |
| Note: The presence of one of the features of severity is sufficient to place a patient in that category. Source: Anon 2001, Asthma in America, asthmainamerica/slides/slide9.htm, December 4, 2001 | |