What medication can be prescribed for a child experiencing increased nighttime wheezing?

When considering the management of increased nighttime wheezing in children, the choice of medication can significantly impact symptom relief and overall asthma control. Albuterol, a short-acting beta-agonist (SABA), acts quickly to relax the muscles of the airways, providing rapid relief of wheezing and other signs of bronchospasm. It is commonly prescribed as a rescue inhaler for acute wheezing episodes and can be particularly effective when symptoms increase at night.

Salmeterol and formoterol, both long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs), are less appropriate as initial treatments for acute exacerbations or nighttime symptoms because they take longer to take effect compared to albuterol. They are generally used as maintenance therapy in combination with inhaled corticosteroids for long-term control of asthma but are not suitable for quick relief during an acute episode of wheezing.

Beclomethasone, an inhaled corticosteroid, is used for long-term control of asthma and to reduce inflammation in the airways, but it does not provide the immediate relief needed during nighttime wheezing episodes. Corticosteroids help to manage chronic symptoms and decrease the frequency of exacerbations but are not effective as a rescue medication for acute situations.

Thus, for a child