The level of treatment is based in the patient’s level of asthma severity, which changes with time, age, and compliance with treatment. Frequent reassessments of the level of severity are necessary to provide adequate therapy. The overall goals of therapy are to prevent chronic and troublesome symtoms;prevent exacerbations of systems; maintain normal activity level; maintain normal pulmonary function; optimize pharmacotherapy and minimize side effects; and satisfy the patient’s and the family’s expectations
and goals for asthma care. A stepwise pharmacological approach is recommended in treating patients with asthma. The main goal is to gain control quickly and to “step down” to the lowest medication level required to maintain asthma control. A list of quick-relief asthma medication is presented in Table 26-13.
A flow chart outlining the stepwise approach is shown in Figure 26-11.