• Asthma therapy aims to achieve and maintain daily control of symptoms of the disease and avoid future risks, thus preventing asthma exacerbations and mortality.
• Therapy should follow a stepwise approach: step up with poorly controlled symptoms and step down when control is good.

Intermittent asthma: a SABA bronchodilator taken on an as-needed basis is sufficient

Persistent asthma: start maintenance therapy with an ICS:

.   Mild: low dose of ICS

.   Moderate: add a LABA and give a low dose of ICS, or a medium dose if control is inadequate

.   Severe: increase dose of ICS and if control is inadequate add an oral corticosteroid     

• Ongoing systematic evaluation of the patient and assessment of response to treatment

• Reassess within 2-3 months of treatment initiation and continue with revisions every 3-12 months.

• ICS are the most effective drugs for treating asthma (most patients are controlled with low doses).