A 9-year-old girl has severe asthma and required three hospitalizations in the past year. Which drug is most likely responsible for reducing the frequency of her severe attacks?

Inhaled fluticasone is a corticosteroid known for its effectiveness in managing chronic asthma by reducing inflammation in the airways. This anti-inflammatory action helps to decrease the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. For a patient like the 9-year-old girl who has experienced severe asthma and multiple hospitalizations, the use of inhaled fluticasone would play a critical role in her daily management plan, providing preventative care rather than just symptomatic relief.

Inhaled albuterol, while effective for immediate relief of acute asthma symptoms due to its bronchodilatory properties, does not reduce the frequency of asthma attacks over time, as it is not used for maintenance therapy. Inhaled ipratropium is another bronchodilator, but it is typically used less frequently in managing asthma and primarily offers short-term relief rather than long-term control. Oral zafirlukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, can help with asthma control, but inhaled corticosteroids like fluticasone are generally considered the first-line treatment for persistent asthma due to their potent anti-inflammatory effects.

Therefore, the reduction in the frequency of severe asthma attacks for this patient is best achieved through the use of inhaled fluticasone, making it the