Efficacy and Safety of Ciclesonide in Preschool Children With Asthma (2 to 6 Years) (BY9010/M1-207)

Main Inclusion Criteria: * Written informed consent by the parents or legal guardians of the patient * Outpatients * Good health with the exception of asthma * Documented diagnosis of asthma for more than 6 months * Use of rescue medication only or pretreatment with a controller drug Main Exclusion Criteria: * Concomitant severe diseases * Diseases contraindicated for the use of inhaled steroids * Other relevant lung diseases causing impairment in pulmonary function * Recurrent, episodic wheezing only * History of life-threatening asthma * History of any mechanical ventilation * Clinically relevant abnormal laboratory values suggesting an unknown disease and requiring further clinical evaluation * Premature birth (\< 32 weeks gestation)