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What should you recommend for a 16-year-old boy with asthma who has an FEV1 of 70%?
Teach him to recognize symptoms he may not be aware of
Prescribe budesonide due to uncontrolled asthma
Advise not to use albuterol unless symptoms are present
Instruct to stop taking albuterol since symptoms are infrequent
The correct answer is: Prescribe budesonide due to uncontrolled asthma
When assessing a 16-year-old boy with asthma and an FEV1 of 70%, which indicates a level of lung function that falls within the categories of mild to moderate airway obstruction, recommending the prescription of budesonide is particularly appropriate. Budesonide is an inhaled corticosteroid that helps to reduce airway inflammation, improve lung function, and decrease the frequency of asthma exacerbations. Given that the patient’s FEV1 is below the expected range, this may suggest a degree of uncontrolled asthma. Therefore, initiating therapy with an inhaled corticosteroid like budesonide is a proactive approach to manage and control the asthma effectively. The other options do not address the immediate need for medication adjustment or management: - Teaching symptom recognition is an important aspect of asthma education but does not directly contribute to improving the current level of control indicated by the FEV1 result. - Advising on the selective use of albuterol without symptoms implies a potential underuse of a rescue inhaler, especially when the patient may benefit from proactive treatment given the reduced lung function. - Instructing the patient to stop taking albuterol entirely could lead to a lack of needed relief in case of sudden or unexpected symptoms, especially when not well controlled at a functional level. Overall