Amy Schumer spent 5 days in the hospital for a kidney infection—here's why

Amy Schumer spent 5 days in the hospital for a kidney infection—here's why

It’s been one week since the premiere of Amy Schumer’s latest film, I Feel Pretty — a comedy about beauty standard denialism that has garnered mixed reviews. But as the internet spent the week debating the film’s message, the 36-year-old star has been struggling to recover from a serious health scare.

“Here’s what I’ve been up to this week. I was hospitalized for 5 days with a horrible kidney infection,” the New York native posted on her Instagram on Friday. Photos on the post showed her straining to smile in a hospital bed, surrounded by her new husband, Chris Fisher, and her sister, Kim Caramele. The comedian also gave a shout-out to the hospital team, saying thank you to the “doctors, the bad ass nurses also my husband who’s name is, i want to say, Chris?”

Scheduled to appear at the London premiere of the film, she told fans that doctors had instructed her to stay at home and take care of herself. Still, she urged her U.K. fans to see it the movie. “It’s sweet and fun and you will walk out feeling better. Which is something I hope to feel soon too,” she writes.As the queen of “Milk Milk Lemonade” works to get recover, here’s a look at exactly what a kidney infection entails — and what you can do to stay healthy.

According to the Mayo Clinic a kidney infection — also known as pyelonephritis — is “a type of urinary tract infection (UTI) that generally begins in your urethra or bladder and travels to one or both of your kidneys.” Symptoms of the condition, which requires immediate medical attention, range from fever, chills, and burning during urination to nausea, vomiting, and blood in the urine.

The infection most commonly occurs as complication of a urinary tract infection. But in less common cases, the bacteria can come from an alternate place, like an artificial heart valve. It’s unclear what exactly happened in Schumer’s case, but it’s notable that she received medical attention. When not treated immediately, kidney infections can be extremely serious — and even life-threatening.

Thankfully, the infection can be wiped out with antibiotics. Some of the most commonly prescribed prescriptions are ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, which are generally given for 10 to 14 days. In certain cases, the infection requires hospitalization to monitor the individual’s blood, provide hydration, and ensure that the antibiotics are working.

Based on Schumer’s smiling photos, it seems that the worst of her infection is over. But her stint in the hospital is an important reminder that if you have any symptoms of a urinary tract infection, you should seek treatment immediately.