Current evidence suggests that patients with mild asthma are often under-recognised, and those that are diagnosed can remain with this initial classification and be treated accordingly, despite worsening of their condition. There is considerable overlap between mild and more severe asthma in terms of the underlying pathophysiology and poorly reversible airway changes, such as subepithelial fibrosis and airway wall remodelling, which are present very early in the progression of asthma in patients with normal lung function. Life-threatening exacerbations can also occur in patients with mild asthma. In view of these factors and given that asthma is a two-component disease (airway inflammation and smooth muscle dysfunction), recent studies have examined the effects of both early intervention with steroids and combination therapy comprising an inhaled steroid and a long acting beta(2)-agonist. These studies suggest that early intervention is likely to provide better asthma control and possibly prevent or delay the worsening of disease and fatalities in patients considered to be mild asthmatics.