Can Cpap cause pneumonia?

debst99 · Post by **debst99** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 7:13 am

My doctor said I caught it from someone when I had pneumonia a while back, but has anyone got pneumonia after starting cpap. I have never had it before in my life (55 years old).

With all the moisturized air being blown in your lungs, could it be that it was putting fluid in my lungs?

Thanks.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 7:47 am

Deb,
These last two weeks I spoke to a friend in her 60's a couple of times.
First he almost 13 year old grandson (no cpap user) caught pneumoia.

The, this last Sunday, she too (a healthy, non-cpap user) caught it too - with very high fever.

I'm (almost) 55.
About 6 months before I started using cpap I moved aways from an apartment with a fautly chimney to another neighborhood, with less pollution outside as well as inside. I had been getting 1-2 attacks of bronchitis each year between - more or less the ages of 48 and 52.

I haven't had one since. I had maybe 2 colds - and that's all they were.

The humiidity in the cpap air is not causing fluid to accumulate in your lungs.

Some people have fluid in their lungs because of cardiac insufficiency. That fluid may make them more succeptible to pneumonia. However, for most people, the fluid is the result of the inflamation, not vice versa.

And while it's tempting to relate it to a known, controlable cause (i.e. cpap) - the truth is probably what your doctor said - we sometimes get infected in ways that we could not have avoided.

I hope you're feeling better - pneumonia can be so exhausting!
Take care!
O.

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 8:04 am

Deb,

I agree with what Ojiz said and want to add just a few thoughts. I had pneumonia before I started CPAP but not since so far. However, because I have immune system issues, I do make sure to scrupulously follow cleaning instructions for my equipment. I use distilled water in my humidifer *and* wash it in warm water with a few drops of mild dish detergent *every* morning without fail. I plan is to disinfect my stuff with "Control 3" if I get a cold or flu.

So if you're prone to respiratory stuffand/or concerned about it, it would seem prudent to be careful with the cleaning.

Mindy