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Select treatment area Bladder & Kidneys Blood Brain & nervous system Cancer Children's health Diabetes Digestive system Ear, nose & throat Eating & weight Eyes Fertility Heart and circulation Hormones Infections Lungs & breathing Men's health Mental health Mouth Muscles & bones Pregnancy & childbirth Sexual health Skin Sleep Staying healthy Travel health Women's health

Your child's asthma is classified according to how severe it is.¹

• Mild intermittent: Symptoms occur on one or two days a week, and night-time symptoms happen once or twice a month.
• Mild persistent: Symptoms occur more than twice a week, but not every day. Night-time symptoms happen a couple of times a month. Attacks can disrupt activities, such as going to school.
• Moderate persistent: Symptoms occur every day, and night-time symptoms happen at least once a week. Attacks stop your child from doing what he or she would normally do.
• Severe persistent: Constant symptoms keep your child from doing certain things, such as playing sports. Attacks are frequent.

Your doctor might also talk about how bad your child's asthma is according to the treatments they need to control it. Doctors talk about steps. Each step shows what treatment your child needs to control their asthma. Asthma that is step 1 needs the fewest treatments. Asthma that is Step 4 needs the most treatments.

Doctors in the United States use the stepwise approach to treating asthma. They talk about "stepping up" treatment, when they increase the dose or the number of treatments your child needs. If your child's asthma is under control, your doctor might reduce the dose or take some treatments away. This is called "stepping down." Your doctor will always try to give your child the smallest amount of treatments that keep his or her asthma under control.¹

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.