Objective: To prepare a website for families and health professionals containing up to date information about paediatric rheumatic diseases (PRD). Methods: Firstly, paediatric rheumatology centres and family self help associations were surveyed to characterise current clinical practice of physicians providing care for children with PRD, research activities, and training facilities of each centre. Secondly, international consensus was reached on the content of the website. Finally, the website was developed and the texts translated. Results: The web page contains three main sections: (a) description for families of the characteristics of 15 PRD; (b) list of paediatric rheumatology centres; (c) contact information for family self help associations. A version for 45 countries in 52 languages (with another three in progress) is now available on the web. 291 surveys from 171 centres and 102 family associations were received from 42 countries. The median proportion of time spent in paediatric practice in the centres examined was 100%, with 70% of this time dedicated to paediatric rheumatology. 90% of the centres were willing to perform clinical trials in the future. Conclusions: The PRINTO/PRES website provides a well defined and competent set of information about PRD, with appropriate multiple translated versions and easy web navigational direction. P aediatric rheumatic diseases (PRD) are rare conditions with substantial morbidity, with significant consequences for the quality of life of the child and his/her family, as well as the costs of health care and social care. The PRD comprise a group of heterogeneous chronic diseases, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile dermatomyositis, juvenile scleroderma, and vasculitides.Widespread availability of the internet allows families to access medical information quickly and easily, but this information is often not standardised, and is inaccurate and unreliable. Indeed, internet philosophy is that anyone can set up a website, but with the risk that, through ignorance or bias, the content of the site may not be correct even if the original information sources are reliable and accurate.The European Commission, 1 and the American Medical Association, 2 have formulated guidelines for the development of websites containing medical information. The Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO) 3 in collaboration with the Paediatric Rheumatology European Society (PRES), supported by the European Union (contract 2001CVG4-808), has set up a project with the aim of preparing a website for families and health professionals. This website would contain consensus information about many of the PRD, a list of paediatric rheumatology centres, and a list of family self help associations. Moreover, in order to characterise the current clinical practice of physicians who provide care for children with PRD, research activities, and training facilities of each centre a survey was sent to paediatric rheumatology centres in 44...