Environmental Control as Add-on Therapy in Childhood Asthma

The study is a parallel arm study of an individually tailored, multi-faceted ECS plus controller medication titration versus controller medication titration alone. After a 4-week run-in period to stabilize the asthma, the investigators will randomize 200 Baltimore children with persistent asthma and a recent exacerbation in a 1:1 ratio to the two arms and follow the children for six months. There will be five clinic visits and three home visits over this time period for clinical and home assessments, respectively. There will be up to four environmental intervention visits for participants randomized to the environmental control plus controller medication group. The environmental modules include mouse, cockroach, furry pets, dust mites, and smoking. Air purifiers and laundered bedding are also included in this arm. Participants randomized to the controller medication group have the option of having one home visit after completing the study at which the participants will receive home intervention services that the environmental control plus controller medication group received. Participants will have repeated assessment of: controller medication requirements; secondary clinical, physiologic, and inflammatory outcomes; and particulate matter (PM), air nicotine, and allergen levels.