Asthma severity is classified into one of the following four categories:
1) mild intermittent,
2) mild persistent,
3) moderate persistent, and
4) severe persistent.
TABLE 1 outlines this classification. Patients who experience asthma symptoms more often than two days per week or two nights per month are classified as having “persistent” asthma, and should be recommended for ongoing therapy with long-term control medications. Because a variety of symptoms are listed in each category, patients should be classified in the group that corresponds to the most severe of their symptoms. Moderate to severe exacerbations can occur in any of the four categories.
Table 1. Asthma Classification by Severity |
Mild Intermittent
|
Mild Persistent
|
Moderate Persistent
|
Severe Persistent
|
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