Patient description: The patient is a 15-year-old boy with asthma diagnosed a year ago. He presents with shortness of breath, chest tightening and cough. According to his mother, he didn't respond to the usual corticosteroid inhaler. He was admitted to the emergency department with diagnosis of severe asthma exacerbation. He is a candidate for general corticosteroid therapy. Spirometry revealed a forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) of 60% of the predicted. His past medical history is non-significant. His family history is significant for asthma in his mother and his uncle. He used to be treated with combination of inhaled corticosteroids and Zafirlukast.

Clinical trial eligibility criteria: eligible ages (years): 4.0-11.0,  Asthma Written informed consent Asthma diagnosis: The patient has a diagnosis of asthma as defined by the National Institute of Health (NIH). The asthma diagnosis has been present for a minimum of 3 months and has been stable (defined as no exacerbations and no changes in medication) for at least 30 days before screening visit Severity of disease: The patient has persistent asthma, with a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) 40% to 90% of the value predicted for age, height, and sex at screening visit (SV) Current asthma therapy: The patient is currently being treated with 1 of the following: 1) a stable daily dosage of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) in the range of 88-176 mcg/day of fluticasone propionate (or equivalent) for a minimum of 4 weeks (28 days) before screening visit 2) a stable daily dosage of non-corticosteroid therapy 3) a daily dose of ICS plus a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) (at a dose less than or equivalent to fluticasone propionate 100 mcg/salmeterol 50 mcg twice daily) Reversibility of disease: The patient has demonstrated at least 12% reversibility of FEV1 within 30 minutes after 2-4 inhalations of albuterol/salbutamol hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) MDI (90 mcg ex-actuator) or equivalent at screening visit or on retesting Other apply, please contact the investigator for more information  The patient has a history of life-threatening asthma, defined for this protocol as an asthma episode that required intubation and/or was associated with hypercapnia, respiratory arrest, or hypoxic seizures The patient is pregnant or lactating, or plans to become pregnant during the study period or for 30 days after the patient's last study-related visit (for eligible patients only, if applicable). Any patient becoming pregnant during the study will be withdrawn from the study The patient has a known hypersensitivity to any corticosteroid or any of the excipients in the study drug or rescue medication formulation The patient has used tobacco products within the past year (eg, cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, or pipe tobacco, as applicable) The patient has had an asthma exacerbation requiring oral corticosteroids within 30 days before screening visit, or has had any hospitalization for asthma within 2 months before screening visit The patient has historical or current evidence of a clinically significant disease. Significant disease is defined as any disease that in the medical judgment of the investigator would put the safety of the patient at risk through participation or that could affect the efficacy or safety analysis if the disease/condition worsened during the study Other apply, please contact the investigator for more information