Objectives: To determine the severity of AD in children at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, caregiver general knowledge of the disease, and the relationship between the two.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 215 paediatric dermatology patients. The children and caregiver’s demographic data were collected. The children were examined, and the severity of AD was calculated using the SCORAD scale. The general knowledge AD questionnaire was used to assess the caregiver’s knowledge of the disease. The relationship between the severity of AD and the general knowledge of the caregivers was also assessed. Results: Approximately 98.6% of patients studied were black African. Sixty-nine per cent of the children had moderate severity of AD. Two thirds (n=145) of caregivers knew about the importance of moisturisers in caring for patients with AD. A weak direct relationship was found between the parent’s level of education and general knowledge at r = 0.198 [p value= 0.004]. There was no statistically significant relationship between AD severity and the caregiver’s general knowledge of AD [p value= -0.873].

Conclusion: Our patients had moderate AD and relatively good caregiver AD general knowledge. There was no statistically significant relationship between AD severity and the caregiver’s general knowledge about AD.