Rethinking the Blue Inhaler: Budesonide–Formoterol vs Salbutamol in Children with Mild Asthma | The CARE Trial

Is it time to rethink the traditional blue reliever inhaler for children with mild asthma?In this episode of Hope & Histamine: The Paediatric Allergy Podcast, we examine the landmark 2025 CARE trial published in The Lancet. This 52-week randomised controlled trial compared budesonide–formoterol with salbutamol as reliever therapy in children with mild asthma.We explore whether an anti-inflammatory reliever inhaler can provide better protection than salbutamol alone, examining the trial’s findings on asthma attacks, symptom control, safety and treatment burden. We also consider what the results could mean for paediatric asthma guidelines, clinical practice and conversations with children and their families.Whether you are a paediatrician, GP, nurse, pharmacist, trainee or parent, this episode offers a clear and clinically relevant discussion of a study that could reshape how mild childhood asthma is managed.Listen now to discover whether budesonide–formoterol could represent the future of reliever therapy for children with mild asthma.Source:Hatter, L., Holliday, M., Oldfield, K., Kearns, C., Barry, T., Black, M., Bruce, P., Colman, A., Dickinson, E., Eathorne, A., Harwood, M., Hills, T., Lamb, R., Kerse, K., Krishnamoorthy, S., Martindale, J., Semprini, A., Shortt, N., McNamara, D., Byrnes, C.A., Dalziel, S.R., Bush, A., Weatherall, M. and Beasley, R., 2025.Budesonide–formoterol versus salbutamol as reliever therapy in children with mild asthma (CARE): a 52-week, open-label, multicentre, superiority, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 406, pp. 1473–1483. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00861-X.🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTubeDisclaimer: The information shared in this podcast and on this website is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition. Please don't ignore or delay seeking medical advice based on content from this podcast or website.Buy me a coffee: https://coff.ee/goodlifecreationsHope & Histamine: The Paediatric Allergy Podcast brings you expert interviews, evidence-based discussions and practical clinical updates on paediatric allergy, immunology and related conditions to support healthcare professionals in everyday practice.🎧 Listen and subscribe:https://hopeandhistaminepodcasts.buzzsprout.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with colleagues to help improve awareness of hereditary angioedema and advance the care of children with rare allergic and immunological conditions.Send us Fan MailSupport the showBrought to you by - Goodlife Creations (2026). Music by - Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay.