What is the recommended medication for a 20-year-old female with mild persistent asthma?

For a 20-year-old female with mild persistent asthma, the first-line recommended medication is inhaled corticosteroids. These medications effectively reduce inflammation in the airways, which is a key component in managing asthma symptoms and improving overall lung function.

Mild persistent asthma is characterized by symptoms occurring more than twice a week but less than daily, and inhaled corticosteroids are particularly important because they aim to control the underlying inflammation rather than simply alleviating symptoms. They are well-supported by clinical guidelines as the most effective long-term management strategy for this classification of asthma.

While leukotriene modifiers can be considered as an alternative, especially for patients who may have difficulty using inhalers or those with specific triggers (like exercise-induced asthma), they are not typically the first choice in this particular scenario. Long-acting beta agonists are generally used in combination with inhaled corticosteroids for better control of asthma symptoms but are not recommended as a monotherapy for mild persistent asthma. Oral corticosteroids are reserved for more severe exacerbations and should not be used for long-term control in mild persistent asthma due to potential side effects.