Effectiveness and safety of medical masks in the prevention of respiratory infections: a review

Abstract

Abstract Wearing face masks, the critical measure of non-pharmacological intervention (NPI), should not be underestimated in preventing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The challenge for public health persists with various respiratory pathogens in post-COVID-19. Theoretically, promoting wearing masks will continue to be beneficial for public health. This review summarizes the views of studies on the efficacy and safety of mask-wearing in adults and children to prevent respiratory infections. It aims to provide further information that could benefit government decisions on respiratory infection epidemic control. Adherence is the key factor for the effectiveness of mask-wearing for preventing respiratory infections in adults and children, and it must be given high priority when conducting research to validate the effectiveness of masks or making relevant public decisions. The safety effects of mask-wearing include physiological and psychological. The physiological effects could be moderate during short-term mask-wearing, while the safety problems in long-term mask-wearing are required to be further explored. There is no clear evidence of the adverse physiological effects of mask use in children. However, the disadvantage of mask use in children under 2 years of age warrants vigilance. The psychological repercussions of mask-wearing in adults primarily manifest as emotional discomfort, varying across different cultural contexts. The influence of mask-wearing on children’s psychological and social development requires more research, and it should be paid high attention in government decision-making processes.

Keywords

• Non-pharmaceutical interventions
• Masks
• Adults
• Children
• COVID-19
• Respiratory infections