OBJECTIVES: The object of the present assay was to analyze the type and amount of expenses for the family with a child suffering from bronchial asthma living in Vladivostok between 1996-1998. METHODS: 500 families with asthmatic children were surveyed retrospectively and anonymously. RESULTS: Direct expenditures for the child’s disease were 10,98±0,94% of annual income. Pharmacotherapy was the main expense item (75,96±1,2%). Drug expenses for one child were US$ 302,86±10,4 in 1996, US$ 356,72±19,8 in 1997. In 1998 the dollar amount of pharmacotherapy didn`t change greatly (US$ 344,4±20,2) but a slump in exchange value of the ruble without an adequate increase of ruble income led to expenses growing as a percentage of family income (22,1±2,1%). Self-control means expenditures appeared in 1997 and by the end of 1998 19±2,25% of families had sustained them. Doctor visits and sanatorium and health resort expenses per child were 7-8% of direct expenditures for asthma. Less than 5% of families have the means to buy an air cleaning apparatus and hypoallergic linen. The unit price is US$ 100-2100 but annual income of a family with an asthmatic child in Vladivostok in 1997 was US$ 3493±50,4, in 1998 - US$ 2996±94,5. Owing to the child’s disease one of the parents in a third of families either had to be totally unemployed or take low qualified work that aggravated financial loss. Annually 12,2±2,1 disablement days fall on the family because of asthma. CONCLUSIONS: In order to evaluate a family’s real means to follow medical recommendations it’s necessary to take into consideration family expenses for asthma. Economic state aggravation in the country in August 1998 led to abrupt reduction or interruption of basic asthma therapy in 37,86±4,36% families for financial reasons. 82,8±1,67% of parents find the disease to be a considerable financial burden for the family.