Initiation of Chronic Asthma Care Regimens in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Patients 1-5 years of age who are randomly assigned to the treatment arm will be given a one month supply as well as a prescription (for a 6 month supply) for Pulmicort respules (children with mild persistent disease will receive 0.25 mg bid whereas children with moderate or severe persistent disease will receive 0.5 mg bid).

All children (control and treatment arm) will be given a burst dose of steroids (4 days of prednisone, 1mg/kg/dose to a maximum of 40 mg/dose to be given twice a day) at discharge from the ED. All children 1-5 years of age will also receive standardized discharge medication instructions for using albuterol nebulizer treatments: they will receive a prescription for 2.5mg of albuterol in 3cc Normal Saline for aerosol use via compressor every 3 times a day as a chronic care regimen if they are either in the treatment arm and 1-5 years of age or if they are in the control group and already own a nebulization compressor.