due to strong sensitizers (especially drugs but also occupational aller- gens) (3–5). To our knowledge, there has never been described an erythema multiforme with contact dermatitis from rubber vulcanization agents. The lesions were the consequence of indirect occupational contact with rubber piping via the intermediary of a detachment gel able to absorb and concentrate rubber allergens. The clinical course of the disease was biphasic: initially, an acute eczema with poor response to topical corticos- teroids and then erythema multiforme requiring systemic corticosteroids. The pathophysiological mechanism could be a systemic response due to the strength of the allergen or cyto- toxicity as in erythema multiforme with herpetic infection (4, 5). We were amazed by the rapidity of this sensitization to rubber vulcaniza- tion agents. An occupational survey found other workers presenting with a similar eruption at the same factory. References 1. Goh C L. Urticarial papular and plaque eruptions. A non-eczematous manifestation of allergic contact dermatitis. Int J Dermatol 1989: 28: 172–176. 2. Seindenari S, Di Nardo A, Motolese A, Pincelli C. Erythema multiforme asso- ciated with contact sensitization. G Ital Dermatol Venereol 1990: 125: 35–40. 3. Fouussereau J, Cavelier C, Protois J C, Sancez M, Heid E. A case of erythema multiforme with allergy to isopropylenediamine. Contact Derma- titis 1988: 18: 183. 4. Koch P, Bahmer F A. Erythema- multiforme-like, urticarial papular and plaque eruptions from bufexa- mac. Contact Dermatitis 1994: 31: 97–101. 5. Bourrain J L, Woodward C, Dumas D, Caperan D, Baeni J C, Amblard P. Natural rubber latex contact derma- titis with features of erythema multiforme. Contact Dermatitis 1996: 35: 55–56. Address: B. Milpied Department of Dermatology Ho ˆtel Dieu Pl. A. Ricordeau 44095 Nantes France Tel: þ33 2 40 08 31 18 Fax: þ33 2 40 08 31 17 e-mail: brigitte.milpied@chu-nantes.fr A multilingual European patch test software concept: WinAlldat/ ESSCA Wolfgang Uter 1 , Ronald Arnold 2 , John Wilkinson 3 , Stephanie Shaw 3 , Daniel Perrenoud 4 , Cherif Rili 4 , Martine Vigan 5 , Fabio Ayala 6 , Beata Kre ˆcisz 7 , Janice Hegewald 1 and Axel Schnuch 2 1 Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen-Nu ¨rnberg, Germany, 2 Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, University of Go ¨ttingen (www.ivdk.org), Germany, 3 Department of Dermatology, Amersham Hospital, Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Amersham HP7 0JD, UK, 4 Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, University of Lausanne, Switzerland, 5 Service de dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besanc ¸on, France, 6 Department of Dermatology, University of Naples Federico II, Italy, 7 Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland The ready availability of a computer database for standardized patch test data has great scientific and public health benefits (1). The patch test software ‘WinAlldat/ESSCA’ has been developed as a tool to (i) collect and analyse patch test data on a local level and (ii) export this (anonymized) data to a data centre for further pooled analyses. Commissioned by the EU project ESSCA-DC (QLK4-CT- 2001-00343), WinAlldat/ESSCA has successfully been used since early 2002 to collect data in the context of the European Surveillance Sys- tem on Contact Allergies (ESSCA) (www.essca-dc.org). In addition to its ability to cater for special local research interests and documentation require- ments, multilingual capabilities make WinAlldat/ESSCA a candidate soft- ware for individual departments or national contact dermatitis groups in search of a suitable tool, with or with- out the intention to (yet) contribute to ESSCA. We invite colleagues to evalu- ate WinAlldat/ESSCA, clearly with the hope that they might wish to contribute to, and thus broaden the base of, ESSCA at some stage. Naturally, contributions to ESSCA are more easily incorporated when delivered in a standard format, such as that provided by the WinAlldat/ESSCA software. The scope of anamnestic items is shown in the history sheet [case record form (CRF)] available online under http://www.ivdk.gwdg.de/essca/doc/. In addition to these core and optional items, local users can easily supplement the basic CRF with additional ques- tions and corresponding pick lists. Additionally, if non-categorical data is to be recorded, respective database extensions and input and report mod- ules can be programmed, e.g. using Visual Basic (Visual Studio TM , Micro- soft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA). This, however, may require the involvement of information technicians or programmers. Concerning occupa- tions, the ISCO-88 COM classification is used for the sake of compatibility with European statistical requirements. The International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) has not been included in the core version, because relevant diagnoses are not well represented in this catalogue. Moreover, the ICD-10 classifies derma- titis diagnoses according to selected causative substances, which is redun- dant to other parts of the WinAlldat/ ESSCA database. However, it is possible to supplement the database with a set of ICD-10 diagnoses, if required. The objective of future software development will be to include the support of the XML standard for printing purposes (HTML), export and the integration into hospital informa- tion systems. Furthermore, the devel- opment of a Java-based WinAlldat/ ESSCA client for information retrieval and standard reports tool is being considered. Translations into languages other than English (core version) can be performed utilizing a translation tool kit, which requires MS Access TM (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA). This process involves cata- logue lists (e.g. diagnoses, anatomical sites, occupations, allergen names) of the database, screen field labels, online help texts and a written manual. Clearly, a translation needs to be done by just one centre, and translated versions can subsequently be delivered to other centres interested in a particular language version, once the translation has been integrated into the installation package. So far, transla- tions and respective program versions for Italian, French and Polish are currently in the final testing phase. For German-speaking areas, the sister- version of the software, WinAlldat/ 270 CONTACT POINT