BACKGROUND To describe the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with reflux esophagitis, and compare it with that in patients with normal endoscopy. METHODS Fifty-five patients with endoscopic peptic esophagitis and 55 symptomatic patients with normal endoscopy were studied. Age and sex distribution were similar in both groups. At endoscopy biopsy specimens were taken from gastric antrum and body (H & E, Gram stain and culture). RESULTS H. pylori was found in 74.5% (95% CI = 62-84%) of patients with reflux esophagitis, and in 76.4% (CI = 64-86%) of cases with normal endoscopy (a non-significant difference). In patients with esophagitis and H. pylori infection normal histologic antral mucosa was observed in 7.3% of cases (CI = 2.5-19.4%). In patients with normal endoscopy the corresponding figure was 4.8% (CI = 1.3-15.8%) (a non-significant difference). At gastric body from infected patients the percentages of patients with normal histologic mucosa was 29.3% (n = 12) and 23.8% (n = 10), in both groups respectively. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with reflux esophagitis was 74.5%, and no difference was observed when comparing with infection rate in patients with normal endoscopy (76.4%). Therefore, a non-significant association was found between this esophageal disorder and H. pylori infection.