Atopic dermatitis is a disease of early childhood. Most children are infected with the herpes simplex virus at this age. The changes in the congenital and adaptive immunity in children with atopic dermatitis create precondition for the development of infectious complications, including those caused by herpes viruses. The authors of the article discuss details of various clinical manifestations of herpes infection in children with atopic dermatitis and they carry out differential diagnostics. Particular attention is paid to herpes eczema – the severe complication of atopic dermatitis in the course of disseminated herpes infection. © 2018 National Academy of Pediatric Science and Innovation. All rights reserved.