LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paris Hilton was released from a Los Angeles County jail early yesterday because of an unspecified medical problem and will fulfil the remainder of her sentence for probation violation in home confinement, a sheriff’s spokesman said.The 26-year-old hotel heiress was sent home shortly after 2 a.m. wearing an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet, sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said.

Hilton was sentenced to 45 days for violating her probation in a reckless driving case, but had been expected to serve 23 days in jail because of state rules allowing shorter sentences for good behaviour.

She ended up spending three full days at the all-women’s facility in Lynwood, but because she checked in late on Sunday and left early yesterday, authorities credited her with five days of time served. She’ll be confined to her Hollywood Hills home for 40 days.

“I can’t specifically talk about the medical situation other than to say that yes, it played a part in this,” Whitmore said.

Hutton didn’t immediately return calls seeking comment yesterday. Nor did her publicist, Elliot Mintz.

Whitmore refused to answer questions from reporters when asked if the medical condition was physical or psychological. He said it was not a staph infection. The jail provided Hilton with a pamphlet on the skin infection when she checked in.

The conditions of Hilton’s home confinement were not immediately disclosed. Whitmore referred all questions to the LA County Probation Department. Messages left for the person handling media calls weren’t immediately returned.

Hilton had surrendered to authorities with little fanfare late on Sunday after a surprise appearance at the MTV Movie Awards, where she worked the red carpet in a strapless designer gown.

“I am trying to be strong right now,” she told reporters at the time. “I’m ready to face my sentence. Even though this is a really hard time, I have my family, my friends and my fans to support me, and that’s really helpful.”

Hilton was housed in the “special needs” unit of the 13-year-old jail, separate from most of its 2,200 inmates. The unit contains 12 two-person cells reserved for police officers, public officials, celebrities and other high-profile inmates. She didn’t have a cellmate.

Hilton’s lawyer, Richard A. Hutton, said on Monday after his client’s first night in jail that she was doing well under the circumstances.

“She’s using this time to reflect on her life, to see what she can do to make the world better and hopefully, in my opinion, to change the attitudes that exist about her among many people,” Hutton said after visiting Hilton.

When Hilton was sentenced on May 4, Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer ruled she would not be allowed any work release, furloughs or use of an alternative jail or electronic monitoring in lieu of jail.