Katherine Rivera, M.D.

Respiratory tract illness is a common trigger of asthma exacerbations in children. Preliminary data suggests that parents can confidently identify non-respiratory and upper respiratory signs and symptoms that occur before the development of an exacerbation, and that, with education and follow-up, they are able to institute treatment at the onset of such symptoms. This clinical study will test whether initiation of additional therapy at incidence of non-respiratory and upper respiratory symptoms will be more successful in preventing need for oral corticosteroids than later in the course when lower respiratory symptoms develop, as is typically recommended by most asthma management plans.