Updated australian guidelines for mild asthma: What’s changed and why?

Abstract

The Australian asthma guidelines have recently been updated and include additional treatment options for adults and adolescents with mild asthma. Mild asthma is not necessarily a benign condition and patients are still at risk of severe flare-ups, particularly if they overuse short-acting beta2 agonists such as a salbutamol inhaler. For adults and adolescents with mild asthma, the updated guidelines include as-needed inhaled low-dose budesonide–formoterol as an alternative to daily low-dose inhaled corticosteroid plus as-needed short-acting beta2 agonist. The budesonide–formoterol combination should be taken as needed to provide symptom relief and reduce the risk of severe exacerbations.