Sleep disorders are a common comorbidity of atopic dermatitis (AD) but little research has been done on this topic. The characteristics and effects of AD-associated sleep disorders in children and their families were investigated in a case-control study. A total of 323 dermatologists collaborated to recruit 2 AD-referred patients aged 0-10 years plus 2 age-matched controls. A total of 520 AD patients and 520 controls completed questionnaires that collected data on patient history and sleep patterns during the last 6 months. Of the AD patients, 30.8% had mild and 69.2% moderate to severe AD. Moderate to severe pruritus was reported in 85.2% but was mild or absent in 14.8% of cases. ...