METHODS	176 children aged 5-10 years with newly detected asthma were randomly assigned to three treatment groups : ( 1 ) continuous budesonide ( 400 microg twice daily for 1 month , 200 microg twice daily for months 2-6 , 100 microg twice daily for months 7-18 ) ; ( 2 ) budesonide , identical treatment to group 1 during months 1-6 , then budesonide for exacerbations as needed for months 7-18 ; and ( 3 ) disodium cromoglycate ( DSCG ) 10 mg three times daily for months 1-18 .\