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In 2002, an expert panel from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) issued updated guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma in both adults and children. The NAEPP expert panel established four severity classification categories of asthma based upon the severity of symptoms, frequency of night awakenings due to asthma symptoms, and lung function. Severity classification of asthma helps doctors devise an optimal treament plan for each category of patients. These categories are:

• Mild Intermittent Asthma

  • symptoms occur 2 times a week or less with only brief episodes of acute exacerbations and no limitations on physical activity
  • night awakenings due to asthma symptoms occur 2 times or less per month
  • mild lung function impairment

• Mild Persistent Asthma

  • symptoms occur 2 times a week or less with episodes of acute exacerbations that may limit physical activity
  • night awakenings due to asthma symptoms occur 2 or more times per month
  • mild to moderate lung function impairment

• Moderate Persistent Asthma

  • symptoms occur daily that require the use of inhaled bronchodilators; acute exacerbations of asthma affect physical activity
  • night awakenings due to asthma symptoms occur at least once a week
  • moderate lung function impairment

• Severe Persistent Asthma

  • symptoms occur continously with frequent acute exacerbations that significantly limit physical activity
  • night awakenings due to asthma symptoms occur frequently
  • severe lung function impairment