TikTok Star's 'Fatigue' Was Life-Threatening Kidney Infection

TikTok creator Chloe Barry-Hang was hospitalized during a recent trip to Greece after mistaking a critical symptom for mere travel fatigue. The 31-year-old influencer, known for her lifestyle brand K. Juliet, initially felt rundown but her condition rapidly worsened.

Within three days, Barry-Hang developed a fever and shaking, realizing something was seriously wrong. What she had perceived as exhaustion was diagnosed as a kidney infection, a severe form of urinary tract infection. This painful condition necessitated a two-day hospital stay where she received IV antibiotic treatment.

Barry-Hang shared her experience on TikTok, explaining that a previous UTI had seemingly cleared but had migrated to her bladder and then kidneys. She expressed the profound fear she experienced, stating she was unsure if she would recover.

Symptoms of kidney infections, as outlined by the NHS, include high temperatures, nausea, lower back pain, flu-like aches, and burning during urination. The health authority warns that if left untreated, these infections can become fatal within days, potentially leading to sepsis through bloodstream infection. However, early detection makes kidney infections highly treatable.