Why Is My Son Put On Albuterol?

Question

My son, Tyler is feeling much better and when we went for his asthma check-up, the doctor said that he was not wheezing but he still awakens in the night with a small cough and though it is not really bad, he often wakes up crying. He has a leaky nose and his ears are filled with fluid and the doctor says that it could be due to an infection of the sinus but by and large, he is far better, thank God!! The doctor has suggested that I still continue giving him the Albuterol four times daily till he sees him two weeks later. She told me that it is better that he stays on Albuterol rather than have him going on to Prednisone. I was under the impression that Albuterol is used when you get an attack of asthma and not as preventive medication. I would like to know why he has to continue his Albuterol when he does not have wheezing as he is already on two puffs of Flovent four times a day.