Table 2.

Severity and initiating treatment: children 0–4 years

Severity category	Days and night with symptoms	Interference with normal activity	Preferred treatment
Intermittent	≤ 2 days/week (days) 0 night/month (nights)	None	Step1: SABA as needed (PRN)
Mild persistent	3–6 days/week (days) 1–2 nights/month (nights)	Minor limitation	Step 2: Low-dose ICS
Moderate persistent	Daily (days) 3–4 nights/month (nights)	Some limitation	Step 3: Medium-dose ICS and consider short-course OCS
Severe persistent	Throughout (days) > 1 night/week (nights)	Extremely limited	Step 3: Medium-dose ICS and consider short-course OCS

OCS oral corticosteroids, LABA long-acting beta2 agonist, SABA short-acting beta2 agonist, FEV1 forced expiratory volume in 1 s, FVC forced vital capacity, ICS inhaled corticosteroid Tables 2–4 are adapted from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma, 2007.