What is the preferred treatment for a teenager with mild episodic asthma and occasional urgent care visits?

The preferred treatment for a teenager with mild episodic asthma who experiences occasional urgent care visits involves adding a low-dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for daily use along with an as-needed short-acting β-agonist (SABA). This approach is supported by asthma management guidelines, which emphasize the importance of controlling inflammation in the airways, even in patients who only experience mild symptoms.

Inhaled corticosteroids are the first-line therapy for asthma management because they help reduce inflammation, prevent symptoms, and decrease the frequency of exacerbations. By using a low-dose ICS daily, the teenager can maintain better control over asthma symptoms and reduce the likelihood of needing urgent care visits. The SABA serves as a rescue inhaler to manage acute symptoms when they occur.

In contrast, using only a short-acting β-agonist on an as-needed basis does not effectively address the underlying inflammation associated with asthma. This might lead to a pattern where the teenager relies too heavily on the SABA, which can result in worsening asthma control over time. Increasing the dosage of a short-acting β-agonist is not advisable, as it may mask symptoms while failing to control the inflammatory component of the disease. Using oral corticosteroids daily is generally reserved for