[Viewpoints of the urologist on acute pyelonephritis]

For the urologist acute pyelonephritis is a relatively common disease when it is uncomplicated and occurs in otherwise healthy patients. In such cases, admission to hospital is not always required. On the other hand, there are situations in which the disease is more difficult to manage. A poor general condition, the existence of a congenital malformation, the presence of a foreign body in the urinary tract, the occurrence of the disease after a surgical or instrumental procedure may transform acute pyelonephritis into a dangerous condition which sometimes follows a dramatic course.