See

Watch clinical reasoning with the Mike case

This is an educational demonstration only. Asthma diagnosis and treatment require evaluation by a licensed clinician.

Patient: Mike

12-year-old male, accompanied by Mother (Susan)

History & Presentation:

  • Diagnosed with asthma at age 4
  • Has been off controller medications for 6 months
  • Using albuterol (SABA) once daily for the past 2 weeks
  • Night cough on 2 nights in the past 2 weeks
  • Reports "It's OK" when asked about breathing and sleeping
  • No current respiratory distress

Clinical Reasoning Walkthrough

|

Clinical Reasoning: Mike has been off all controller medications for 6 months. He is only using albuterol (SABA) as needed.

Answer: Step 1 (SABA PRN only)

Since Mike is not on any controller therapy, his current treatment corresponds to Step 1 in the NHLBI stepwise approach.