Viral Meningitis

[machiavelli]

Hope you are all having a better Christmas then me...

Anyone have any knowledge/thoughts about how long I should stay out of the water following viral meningitis?
In particular, could any residual infection following the resolution of symptoms be a DCI risk? - I think a bend in the meninges would really spoil my day.

Thinking about it, I've had an intermittent headache for quite a while - maybe I've dived with it already; but only saw the doctor a couple of days ago, after becoming really ill (pain, temperature, stiff neck, photosensitivity) over Christmas. Very unpleasant but not life threatening (unlike bacterial meningitis) and I've been hiding in the dark and taking ibuprofen.

I won't be diving for three weeks at least, but have a trip planned at the end of January I don't want to miss. It's getting better - I'm feeling a lot less fragile today than I have all week, but am still not keen on light and have the monitor brightness turned right down.

Any thoughts...?

[SilvaFish]

Bloody hell! Hope you are feeling better though. I would strongly recommend you give a diving doctor a ring, the website for the London Diving Chamber specifies that they give advice over the telephone, so worth a try (or even Google for 'diving doctor' and get plenty of links). Personally, I wouldn't dive unless you were 100%, as and inflamed tissue is more susceptable to DCS.


(You don't say where you are, but if in middle of UK, then Dr Margeret Clamp is the one I go to for Fit To Dive medicals)

HTH's,
Lou

Edit - Link to post with www for a diving medical forum

Scuba Clinic - By Doctors who Dive.

[Hellvet]

or this guy is the doc who writes for "sports diver" mag
UK Diving Forums

or try Diving Diseases Research Centre (DDRC) - study the effects of pressure and provides hyperbaric chamber oxygen treatment facilities and medical training for divers, technicians, nurses and doctors for phone advice 01752 209999

Merry Christmas! Hope it doesn't keep you out of the water too long...