Sand, bacteria, and getting sick?

[timkenagy]

I guess this is a chemistry question

Last night I cleared out the sandbed from my refugium. Soon after while I was waiting for the new fuge to fill I started rinsing the sand in the sink. (Gently stirring with my hands) I've done this many times in the past with success but always with dry sand that had sat for a couple years. Anyway all day today I've felt "under the weather", kinda weak.. And achy. I know there's craploads of bacteria in the sand (hence the rinse) but could it be enough to absorb into the skin and make me sick?

 

[twilliard]

Wow this is crazy!
I hope you feel better soon

 

[trido]

I've known two people that have developed skin sensitivities from their tanks and I can remember a time or two that my tank has effected me negatively in the last ten years

 

[Lionfish Lair]

There's a virus going around right now that makes you feel like that.

 

[timkenagy]

Yeah could be just a coincidence. But I've been pretty secluded over the last couple weeks. But it's possible I caught a bug from someone.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd guess coincidence. Skin infections might be expected from what you did, but a systemic bacterial infection sounds a lot less likely.

 

[redfishbluefish]

By chance did you hit into or touch any zoas or palys? I know the one time I hit into them trying to catch a fish with a net, were I touched the zoas/palys, my skin erupted, and the following day I spent in bed feeling very lethargic. Toxins got me!

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I swallowed water from a freshwater tank when I was cleaning it years ago. A few days later I broke out in 104 fever and my entire right side of my chin was covered in cold soars. The doctor told me it was a bacterial infection. I was convinced it was the tank water. Turned out, it was a highly infected wisdom tooth.

 

[timkenagy]

No.. It was just gunk from my fuge. A couple bristle worms got me but that's happened many times. (I know) but anyway I felt much better the next day and I'm still alive. (Lucky all of you!)