We have assessed the relationship between histologic findings and the Helicobacter pylori (HP) colonization in 115 patients (age: 9.8 +/- 3.5 years) with HP infection. Normal antral histology was found in 8.7% of the patients. Signs of histological activity were observed in 58.2% of the patients and glandular lesions in 3.5%. A significantly greater HP colonization was observed in patients with signs of histological activity (p < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between the HP colonization score and histological score (rs = 0.62) with a significant association between the degree of HP colonization and the histologic categories (p < 0.001).