Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T16:20:34.212Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

ENT symptoms of mask-wearing in the coronavirus disease 2019 era

Part of: JLO Coronavirus Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2022

S Koseoglu Open the ORCID record for S Koseoglu [Opens in a new window] ,
K Cakıcı ,
M Demirtaş Open the ORCID record for M Demirtaş [Opens in a new window] ,
O Gokdogan  and
H Ucuncu
S Koseoglu*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Kötekli, Muğla, Turkey
K Cakıcı
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Kötekli, Muğla, Turkey
M Demirtaş
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Kötekli, Muğla, Turkey
O Gokdogan
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Kötekli, Muğla, Turkey
H Ucuncu
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Kötekli, Muğla, Turkey
*
Author for correspondence: Assoc Prof Sabri Koseoglu, Mugla Sitki Kocman Universitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Morfoloji Kampüsü, Kat:2/B, Marmaris Yolu, Kötekli, Menteşe/Muğla, Turkey E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

Analysis of the otorhinolaryngological problems caused by mask-wearing in the coronavirus disease 2019 era.

Methods

A survey with 26 questions was sent by e-mail to 576 individuals.

Results

The most frequently worn masks were three-layer surgical ear loop masks (n = 434, 80.1 per cent), followed by N95 or filtering facepiece code 2 masks (n = 58, 10.7 per cent), and cloth masks (n = 50, 9.2 per cent). The most bothersome symptoms caused by mask-wearing were difficulty in nasal breathing (n = 227, 41.8 per cent), nasal itching and pain (n = 93, 17.2 per cent), earache (n = 88, 16.2 per cent), difficulty in expressing oneself (n = 73, 13.5 per cent), difficulty in understanding speech (n = 56, 10.3 per cent), and ear itching (n = 5, 0.9 per cent).

Conclusion

The problems associated with mask-wearing may result in avoidance of wearing them. Thus, there is a need for new methods that will reduce the problems related to mask-wearing, to increase their use in the community.

Keywords

COVID-19N95 Face MasksNasal BlockageItchingSpeech Discrimination
Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 136 , Issue 7 , July 2022 , pp. 645 - 648
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Assoc Prof S Koseoglu takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

References

Li, Q, Guan, X, Wu, P, Wang, X, Zhou, L, Tong, Y et al. Early transmission dynamics in Wuhan, China, of novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia. N Engl J Med 2020;382:1199–207CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Li, Y, Liang, M, Gao, L, Ayaz Ahmed, M, Uy, JP, Cheng, C et al. Face masks to prevent transmission of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Infect Control 2021;49:900–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davies, A, Thompson, KA, Giri, K, Kafatos, G, Walker, J, Bennett, A. Testing the efficacy of homemade masks: would they protect in an influenza pandemic? Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2013;7:413–18CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Monini, S, Meliante, PG, Salerno, G, Filippi, C, Margani, V, Covelli, E et al. The impact of surgical masks on the nasal function in the COVID-19 era. Acta Otolaryngol 2021;141:941–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Klimek, L, Huppertz, T, Alali, A, Spielhaupter, M, Hormann, K, Matthias, C et al. A new form of irritant rhinitis to filtering facepiece particle (FFP) masks (FFP2/N95/KN95 respirators) during COVID-19 pandemic. World Allergy Organ J 2020;13:100474CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Purushothaman, PK, Priyangha, E, Vaidhyswaran, R. Effects of prolonged use of facemask on healthcare workers in tertiary care hospital during COVID-19 pandemic. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2021;73:59–65CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dror, AA, Eisenbach, N, Marshak, T, Layous, E, Zigron, A, Shivatzki, S et al. Reduction of allergic rhinitis symptoms with face mask usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2020;8:3590–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mengi, E, Kara, CO, Alpturk, U, Topuz, B. The effect of face mask usage on the allergic rhinitis symptoms in patients with pollen allergy during the covid-19 pandemic. Am J Otolaryngol 2021;43:103206CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Szepietowski, JC, Matusiak, L, Szepietowska, M, Krajewski, PK, Bialynicki-Birula, R. Face mask-induced itch: a self-questionnaire study of 2,315 responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Acta Derm Venereol 2020;100:adv00152CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jiang, W, Cao, W, Liu, Q. Wearing the N95 mask with a plastic handle reduces pressure injury. J Am Acad Dermatol 2020;82:e191–2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Heider, CA, Alvarez, ML, Fuentes-Lopez, E, Gonzalez, CA, Leon, NI, Verastegui, DC et al. Prevalence of voice disorders in healthcare workers in the universal masking COVID-19 era. Laryngoscope 2021;131:E1227–33CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Naylor, G, Burke, LA, Holman, JA. Covid-19 lockdown affects hearing disability and handicap in diverse ways: a rapid online survey study. Ear Hear 2020;41:1442–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Homans, NC, Vroegop, JL. The impact of face masks on the communication of adults with hearing loss during COVID-19 in a clinical setting. Int J Audiol 2021:1–6. Epub 2021 Jul 28Google ScholarPubMed