OBJECTIVES: The notion of individual burden, associated with the disease, has been introduced recently to determine the “disability” caused by the pathology in the broadest sense of the word (psychological-social-economic-physical). METHODS: The ABS questionnaire (Atopy Burden Score Q) consists of 19 items, structured around 5 components. It was distributed to a random sample of families consulting at the Necker Hospital, staying at the Avène Hydrotherapy Center, and members of the patient-association. The ABS was accompanied by SF12 and PGWBI, to confirm internal and external validation, and by the PO-SCORAD to assess the level of severity. RESULTS: 58 Q were considered evaluable. 51% of the AD children were girls. The PO-SCORAD established the level of severity of the AD: 14%, 50% and 36% of children had mild, moderate or severe AD respectively. Internal-validity was measured by Cronbach’s alpha, which is equal to 0.81, reflecting a good homogeneity of the 19 items. The mean PGWBI score is 51.82±14.28.. The score reflecting the most important deterioration is found among parents of children with severe atopy. In contrast, the scores associated with moderate and mild atopy are not correlated with severity. Families’ QoL, measured using the SF12, revealed no deterioration in the physical component. The ABS score is correlated with the scores of the Q used, thus confirming external validity. The mean score calculated from the ABS is 48.17±18.36. The score increases with the severity of the AD. A statistically significant difference is observed between the 3 severity-groups, i.e. mild, moderate and severe, with scores of 30.63, 42.55 and 62.62 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The internal and external validity of our Q were confirmed. ABS is correlated with the severity of AD. Hence, we have a short, easy-to-use, validated tool for assessing the burden imposed by atopy on families. Following cultural and linguistic validation, the ABS is now available in US English, Spanish, German and Italian..