Your Child's Asthma: How Severe Is It?
Asthma can be graded based on symptoms. Those grades are a guideline for treatment.
They'll help your child's healthcare provider decide if your child needs to take daily
preventive medicine or use rescue medicines as needed. The provider will also treat
your child based on their health history and current symptoms. The severity of your
child's asthma is likely to change over time. The goal of treatment is always to have
as few symptoms as possible.
Asthma severity
The 4 asthma severity levels are:
-
Intermittent asthma. Children with symptoms no more than 2 times a week. They don't have problems in between
flare-ups. And they only have short flare-ups lasting a few hours to a few days. Nighttime
symptoms happen less than 2 times a month.
-
Mild persistent asthma. Children with symptoms more than 2 times a week, but not daily. They may have activity
levels affected by the flare-ups. Nighttime symptoms happen more than 2 times a month,
but no more than once a week.
-
Moderate persistent asthma. Children with symptoms every day. They use their rescue medicine every day. They may
have activity levels affected by the flare-ups. Nighttime symptoms happen more often
than once a week.
-
Severe persistent asthma. Children with symptoms multiple times per day. They have a decrease in their physical
activity, and often have flare-ups. They need rescue medicine a few times a day. Nighttime
symptoms happen often.
Note: Any child with asthma can be at risk for severe problems (exacerbations) no matter
the severity of their asthma. Be alert for symptoms getting worse. Always give your
child medicines as instructed by their healthcare provider.