Chest infection after diving?

[MissCassidy]

Is it possible to catch a chest infection after diving? My husband and I went for our certification dives two weeks ago, and within 48 hours after our final dive we both came down with a severe bacterial chest infection. The doctors treated us with antibiotics, but I'm wondering if there is any correlation to the dives and this illness?

FYI our dive tanks were rented, and the dive shop has filters on their air compressors. However we both use a type of regulator by Sherwood called Oasis, which has metal "wings" that collect water vapor to help moisten the air coming in from the tank.

Has anyone else encountered a similar situation?

 

[flots am]

Is it possible to catch a chest infection after diving? My husband and I went for our certification dives two weeks ago, and within 48 hours after our final dive we both came down with a severe bacterial chest infection. The doctors treated us with antibiotics, but I'm wondering if there is any correlation to the dives and this illness?

FYI our dive tanks were rented, and the dive shop has filters on their air compressors. However we both use a type of regulator by Sherwood called Oasis, which has metal "wings" that collect water vapor to help moisten the air coming in from the tank.

Has anyone else encountered a similar situation?

I've never heard of anybody getting an infection from a rental regulator, however me not hearing about it certainly doesn't mean it can't happen. I've seen some regs where the inside was so disgusting that that not only wouldn't I breathe from it, I'd wash my hands after touching it.

Most rental regs don't get much more than a rinse after use, which is one reason I always bring my own equipment.

flots.

 

[flots am]

Is it possible to catch a chest infection after diving? My husband and I went for our certification dives two weeks ago, and within 48 hours after our final dive we both came down with a severe bacterial chest infection. The doctors treated us with antibiotics, but I'm wondering if there is any correlation to the dives and this illness?

FYI our dive tanks were rented, and the dive shop has filters on their air compressors. However we both use a type of regulator by Sherwood called Oasis, which has metal "wings" that collect water vapor to help moisten the air coming in from the tank.

Has anyone else encountered a similar situation?

Sorry, I just noticed that the tanks were rentals (and the regs were not?).

If the tanks were rentals, it's entirely possible they're contaminated with seawater, and you can get all sorts of nasty things from inhaling seawater.

Another possibility is lipoid pneumonia, which you can get from inhaling air that contains compressor oil from a poorly maintained compressor.

Note that I'm not a doctor and I didn't stay at a Holiday inn last night.

flots.