Background and purpose: The epidemiology of coxsackievirus has rarely been investigated in Taiwan. This study was performed to ascertain the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of coxsackievirus infections in Taiwan. Methods: 457 patients treated at a medical center in northern Taiwan who were positive for coxsackievirus were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients' medical charts were reviewed for clinical diagnosis, physical examination, laboratory findings, and clinical manifestations. Results: Three serotypes of coxsackievirus A (A9, 5.3%; A 10, 7.2%; A16, 87.5%) were identified among 265 patients, 27.4% of whom were admitted to hospital. The mean( +/- standard deviation [SD]) duration of fever and hospital stay was 2.6 +/- 0.5 days and 4.0 +/- 2.1 days, respectively . Complications were noted in 14 patients (5.3%), all of which involved the central nervous system (CNS). All 6 serotypes of coxsackievirus B (B1, 2.6%; B2, 7.8%; B3, 55.7% ; B4, 2.1 %; B5, 12.5%; B6 , 1.0%; non-typable, 18.2%) were identified in 192 patients, 45.3% of whom were admitted to hospital. The mean (+/- SD) duration of fever and hospital stay was 4.1 +/- 1.0 and 3.4 +/- 0.9 days, respectively. Thirty seven patients (19.3%) had complications, including 34 with CNS involvement. Patients with coxsackievirus B infection had higher hospital admission rates (p