Objective To investigate the correlation of Helicobacter pylori(Hp) infection and gastric mucosal inflammation in the elderly. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on 278 patients with benign upper gastrointestinal diseases identified by endoscopy and 13C- UBT admitted in our hospital from January 2014 to June 2014. According to their ages, the patients were divided into the elderly group(age 60 or over years, n=111) and non- elderly group(age ＜60 years, n＝167). Hp infection, and its relationship with neutrophil infiltration in the gastric mucosa tissue were studied in the two groups. Results The Hp infection rate was 27.0%(30/111) and 36.5%(61/167) respectively(P＞0.05), and the rate of neutrophil infiltration was 18. 9%(21/111) and 29. 3%(49/118) respectively (P＞0.05) for the elderly group and non- elderly group. However, the Hp positive patients had significantly higher neutrophil infiltration rate(70.3%, 64/91) than the negative ones(3. 2%, 6/181; P＜0.05). In those positive to Hp, the neutrophil infiltration rate was 63.3%(19/30) and 73.8%(45/61) respectively for the patients from the elderly group and those from the non- elderly group, and the neutrophil infiltration severity(mild, moderate and severe) were 26. 3% vs 17. 8%, 57.9% vs 71.1%, and 15. 8% vs 11. 1% respectively between the two groups(P＞0.05). Conclusion Acute gastric mucosal inflammation is associated with Hp infection, and the inflammation severity is not related to the age of infected patients.