Indications for maintenance inhaled corticosteroid treatment in children 1–5 years

Severity of Exacerbations

Frequency of symptoms

Less often than once every 3 monthsAt least once every 3 months but not more than once per monthMore than once per month

Mild

Exacerbations quickly* resolve with salbutamol

Not indicatedConsiderIndicated

Moderate–severe

≥2 exacerbations required ED or oral corticosteroids in past 12 months

IndicatedIndicatedIndicated

Life-threatening

≥1 exacerbation required hospitalisation or PICU

IndicatedIndicatedIndicated

Additional information

ED: emergency department; PICU: paediatric intensive care unit; *within a few minutes