Criteria for the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis in children

Major features
1. Pruritus
2. Typical morphology and distribution
Facial and extensor involvement during
infancy and early childhood
Flexural lichenification in childhood or
adolescence
3. Chronic or chronically relapsing dermatitis
4. Personal or family history of atopy
Minor or less specific features
1. Xerosis
2. Periauricular fissures
3. Ichthyosis
4. Hyperlinear palms
5. Keratosis pilaris
6. IgE reactivity (increased serum IgE, RAST, or
prick test positivity)
7. Hand or foot dermatitis
8. Cheilitis
9. Scalp dermatitis
10. Susceptibility to cutaneous infections (especially
Staphylococcus aureus and herpes simplex)
11. Perifollicular accentuation (especially in darkly
pigmented races)
12. Dennie’s lines (Figure 4.12)
13. Pityriasis alba (Figure 4.13)