OBJECTIVES: To characterize pediatric patients with Atopic Dermatitis (AD) in Portugal, according to age groups and disease severity, and to highlight the main differences between the public and private sectors. METHODS: The study design included exploratory interviews with selected physicians and pharmacists (N=9) and a quantitative online survey for the two specialties which follow patients with atopic dermatitis (N=50): 50% dermatologists and 50% allergists (64% working in both public and private sectors), following at least 8 cases of moderate to severe pediatric AD. RESULTS: From the survey, it is estimated that there are approximately 114,250 pediatric patients with AD in Portugal followed by Dermatologists and Allergists. Pediatric patients are distributed between public (45%) and private (55%) sectors. Dermatology is the specialty that stands out in the follow-up of pediatric patients, particularly in the private sector, in which 30% of pediatric patients have moderate to severe disease (versus 16% in Allergology). AD is associated with type II inflammatory comorbidities such asthma, food allergies or allergic rhinitis and their prevalence tends to increase with severity and with age. Moderate to severe cases that persist over time are repeatedly medicated with immunosuppressants (off-label) and their cumulative side effects require therapeutic escalation. Nonetheless, the number of controlled patients decreases as the line of treatment increases, for all ages. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients with AD are followed in both sectors, with special emphasis on Dermatology in the private sector. A high percentage of patients are followed in the private sector. The study is limited to perceptions that dermatologists or allergists have regarding AD moderate or severe patients care, disregarding milder cases that are often followed in primary care physicians. Future research expanding the survey to GPs, Pediatricians and other specialties, using other approaches, such as patient records analysis, would render greater robustness to these results.