Do As-Needed Inhaled Steroids Reduce Asthma Exacerbations in Children?

Compared with albuterol alone, an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) with a fast-acting β-agonist has repeatedly been shown to reduce asthma exacerbations in adults. Now, researchers have compared these two approaches among 360 children with mild asthma (age range, 5–15) who were not receiving daily controller therapy. The children were randomized in an open-label fashion to take two puffs as needed of either budesonide 50 μg–formoterol 3 μg or albuterol 100 μg.