BackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease, adversely affecting nearly 20% of the pediatric population worldwide. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) are considered to be involved in the pathogenesis and development of AD. The aim of this study was to investigate the association ofIL-4andIL-18gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility and severity of AD in Chinese children.MethodsSix candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) inIL-4andIL-18genes were genotyped through multi-PCR combined with next-generation sequencing in 132 AD children and 100 healthy controls, and all the analyses were performed on blood genome DNA.ResultsThe frequencies of G allele, CG genotype and CG + GG genotype ofIL-4rs2243283, as well as the haplotypeIL-4/GTT (rs2243283-rs2243250-rs2243248) were all significantly decreased in AD patients compared with the controls [G vs. C:P= 0.033, OR = 0.59; CG vs. CC:P= 0.024, OR = 0.47; CG + GG vs. CC:P= 0.012, OR = 0.49; GTT vs. CCT:P= 0.011, OR = 0.65]. Moreover, the frequencies of A allele, AA genotype and AG + AA genotype ofIL-18rs7106524, along with the haplotypeIL-18/CAA (rs187238-rs360718-rs7106524) were statistically increased in the severe AD patients (A vs. G:P< 0.001, OR = 2.79; AA vs. GG:P= 0.003, OR = 5.51; AG + AA vs. GG:P= 0.036, OR = 2.93; CAA vs. CAG:P= 0.001, OR = 2.86).ConclusionsOur findings suggested that genetic variation inIL-4rs2243283 such as G allele, CG genotype and CG + GG genotype might confer the reduced susceptibility to AD in Chinese children. Furthermore, A allele, AA genotype and AG + AA genotype ofIL-18rs7106524 explored the strong association with severity in Chinese AD children.