Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate factors influencing disease severity in children of Han nationality with atopic dermatitis （AD） in China, and to provide scientific evidences for prevention and treatment of AD in children. Methods From November 2005 to May 2015, data were collected from AD children aged 0 - 12 years in Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and AD sample collection collaboration network in China. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS16.0 software by using univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis to investigate factors influencing the severity of AD. Results A total of 2 620 children with AD were enrolled into the study, including 230 （8.8%） with mild AD, 1 379 （52.6%） with moderate AD and 1 011 （38.6%） with severe AD. As univariate analysis showed, factors influencing the severity of AD included region, early onset, itching during sweating, xeroderma, ichthyosis, palmar hyperlinearity, lichen pilaris, orbital darkening, scalp dermatitis and infra-auricular fissure （all P＜0.01）. There were no significant differences in the severity of AD between different genders, patients with and without personal or family atopic history, or between patients with and without a high serum IgE level （all P > 0.05）. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that southern region （OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.76 - 2.51）, early onset （OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.71）, itching during sweating （OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.42 - 2.02）, xeroderma （OR = 2.57, 95% CI: 2.10 - 3.15）, ichthyosis （OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.19 - 1.87）, palmar hyperlinearity （OR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.61 - 2.57）, lichen pilaris （OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.17 - 1.78）, orbital darkening （OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.24 - 1.89）, scalp dermatitis （OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 2.01 - 2.82） and infra-auricular fissure （OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.31 - 1.85） were positively correlated with the severity of AD （all P＜0.05）. Conclusion The severity of AD is associated with patients′ region, early onset, itching during sweating, xeroderma, and other concomitant symptoms.

Key words: Dermatitis, atopic, Severity of illness index, Children, Logistic models