Data relating to 3313 adenovirus isolates from patients in Greater Manchester, UK between 1982 and 1996 were analysed using chi2 tests and 95% confidence intervals. Of the 3098 isolates that were typed, 18.6% were serotype 2, 14.9% serotype 3, 12.1% serotype 1 and 10.9% serotype 41. There was evidence of a seasonal occurrence of serotype 7 (March-August), serotype 2 (January-April), serotype 4 (June-August) and subgenus F (September-November). Children less than 5 years old were the most common group of patients with adenovirus infection (61.3%) compared to 24.2% for adults and only 5.6% for school children (5-15 years). Gastric symptoms were the most common amongst infants (47.6%) followed by respiratory (27.5%) and general symptoms (12.9%). In adults, the overwhelming clinical condition was conjunctivitis (88.9%). Despite the traditional association with adenoviruses, remarkably few cases of pharyngoconjunctival fever were recorded (1.7%).