Which inhaled medication is commonly used as an anti-inflammatory component in moderate persistent asthma?

• A. Budesonide
• B. Formoterol
• C. Salmeterol
• D. Montelukast

Answer: (A)

Anti-inflammatory control is the backbone of managing moderate persistent asthma, and inhaled corticosteroids are the standard choice for that role. Budesonide is an inhaled corticosteroid, so it directly targets the airway inflammation that drives symptoms and exacerbations. By inhibiting multiple inflammatory pathways, reducing cytokine production, and decreasing inflammatory cell activity in the airways, it lowers airway hyperresponsiveness and helps prevent nighttime symptoms and rescue medication use.

The other options don’t provide the inhaled anti-inflammatory action in the same way. A long-acting beta-agonist relaxes airway smooth muscle to improve airflow but doesn’t address inflammation. Montelukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist taken orally and, while it can help with certain inflammatory aspects and is used as an add-on in some cases, it is not the inhaled anti-inflammatory component of maintenance therapy.