A 6 year-old boy is brought to the pediatric clinic by his mother for an evaluation of his asthma. He coughs about 3 days out of the week with at least 2-3 nights of coughing. Which of the following would be the most appropriate treatment for this patient?
A) Prescribe a short-acting bronchodilator for as-needed use.
B) Initiate long-term controller therapy with an inhaled corticosteroid.
C) Recommend environmental changes to minimize triggers, such as dust and pet dander.
D) Advise regular monitoring without immediate medication intervention.