The literature concerning renal impairment and damage due to vesical schistosomiasis has been reviewed, with emphasis on radiologic, biochemical, and renographic studies of renal function in affected persons. Presently available evidence suggests that infections due to S. haematobium constitute an important public health problem because they are widely prevalent. A high proportion of affected persons suffer renal impairment and damage due to obstructive uropathic lesions in the lower urinary tract and, probably, through direct immunologic involvement of the kidney. It is therefore important that efforts should be intensified to better define the size and scope of the problem, and to control the disease.