There is evidence that Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with gastric cancer and mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and possibly with non‐ulcer dyspepsia. Eradication therapy for confirmed H. pylori infection may therefore become mandatory in patients with non‐ulcer dyspepsia severe enough to warrant endoscopy and in first‐degree relatives of patients with gastric cancer. However, routine treatment of asymptomatic carriers awaits confirmation of the association with cancer.