Which treatment is commonly used for an acute asthma attack?

The treatment commonly used for an acute asthma attack is the administration of a short-acting bronchodilator. During an asthma attack, the airways become inflamed and narrowed, making it difficult for the patient to breathe. Short-acting bronchodilators, such as albuterol, work quickly to relax the muscles surrounding the airways, thereby widening them and allowing for improved airflow. They provide rapid relief of symptoms and are typically the first-line treatment for an acute exacerbation of asthma.

Other options, while relevant to asthma management in different contexts, are not appropriate for the immediate relief needed during an acute asthma attack. Long-term corticosteroid therapy is critical for managing chronic inflammation in asthma but is not effective for the quick alleviation of acute symptoms. Antibiotics are not indicated unless there is a bacterial infection present, and oxygen therapy is supportive but not a primary treatment; it may be used in cases of severe asthma where oxygen saturation is low but does not directly address the bronchoconstriction. Thus, the immediate and effective intervention for an asthma attack remains the use of a short-acting bronchodilator.