OBJECTIVES: The current study was planned to investigate the prevalence of asthma and allergic problems in people of Balochistan, Pakistan.

METHODS: To determine the prevalence of allergic problems in the area of Balochistan. The current study was conducted in the tribal groups of (Pashtoon, Baloch) in all socioeconomic classes. We have no data regarding it for any tribal group and class. We used a Saudi Arabian Protocol utilizing questionnaires for adult male and female of this region. Questionnaires were distributed to 1000 people, age 18-60 years, in three various areas for suitable proportional illustration of low, middle, and high socioeconomic levels. There are 553 (55.3%) questionnaires returned by the people were observed suitable and thus incorporated in the survey. The SPSS software was used for data analysis.

RESULTS: The data analysis showed that the allergic problems are relatively high in Balochistan, Pakistan. The occurrence of wheezing was observed to be 17.0%, whereas the diagnosed individuals of asthma were 8.0%. Observed cases of allergic rhinitis were 35.0%. The rate of those having as well as wheezing as well as allergic rhinitis episodes was 10.0%. No sex wise statistically significant dissimilarity observed between non-asthmatics and asthmatics (P-value:0.300). Socio-economic condition was observe to affect significantly (p value; 0.002). In case of prevalence of diagnosed asthma individual was 3.0% in the low socioeconomic group, 15.10% in the middle-group and 8.01% in high socioeconomic group.

CONCLUSIONS: Asthmatic problems are relatively widespread in Balochistan, Pakistan but they linger on under-diagnosed. The prevalence information of rhinitis indicates an alarming condition. These clinical problems were observed to affect middle-class in the majority, while the lower and lower-middle group leftovers the less affected. So for to diagnosis, prevention, education and management may assist the province, to eradicate the disease.