The following is adapted from an article published by the Italian pediatric Society specifically to address and reject false claims that masks worn to stop the spread of covid-19 harm children. Authors and sources appear at the foot of the article.
Facial masks may be one of the most cost-effective strategies to prevent the diffusion of Covid 19 infection. Nevertheless, fake news is spreading, scaring parents about dangerous but false side effects of masks in children, such as hypercapnia, hypoxia, gut dysbiosis and immune system weakness. The aim of the Italian Pediatric Society statement is to counter these misconceptions about face masks and to spread scientific, trustworthy information.
The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state face masks help to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. In fact, masks may provide a barrier for potentially infectious droplets where physical distancing of at least three feet is not possible. In Italy, facial masks are required for children aged 6 months and over in closed public setting and whenever social distancing measures are difficult to maintain are important. The Italian Pediatric Society suggests facial mask protection also in children over 3 years old. In case of younger children, as well as of children affected by underlying diseases not compatible with a face mask protection, personal protective equipment should be used only by caregivers.
Nevertheless facial masks should be elastic to fit children’s faces and made by hypoallergenic and breathable material to avoid suffocation. Meanwhile, misleading claims about the health risks of face masks are spreading.
Some people state that face masks may be dangerous and even life-threating for children. Specifically, they say that wearing a mask may restrict their breathing, reduce the intake of oxygen and force children to breathe their own carbon dioxide, causing hypercapnia. As a consequence, children’s state of consciousness may be affected, causing hypoxia and leaving them feeling faint, light-headed, or “smothered.”
In fact, facial mask may be uncomfortable but they not have an impact on healthy children 3 years old and older. Surgeons daily wear face coverings for many hours without coming to harm.
Like the World Health Organization, the Italian Pediatric Society states that the prolonged use of medical masks, when properly worn, does not cause carbon dioxide intoxication nor oxygen deficiency in healthy children.
Masks can be effective in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses such as Covid-19 from person to person, avoiding droplets landing on the mouth or nose. Recent studies found out that surgical face masks could prevent transmission of human coronaviruses and influenza viruses from symptomatic individuals. The Italian Pediatric Society is involved in an awareness campaign to counter the misinformation that facial masks may trigger infections and cause disease.
The Lancet journal published the findings of an international research team that conducted a systematic review of 172 studies assessing the value of social distancing, face masks and eye protection as means of preventing transmission of three diseases caused by coronaviruses–Covid-19, SARS and MERS. Mass masking for controlling the virus is in our view a useful and low-cost adjunct to social distancing and hand hygiene during the Covid pandemic.
The Society recommends educating children wearing facial masks after properly washing hands, and substituting masks if they get dropped or wet.
Misconceptions and misinformation about the use of face masks may hinder the containment of the Covid-19 pandemic. The “anti-mask” deniers alert people to potentially harmful side-effects, publishing posts on social media which may be re-edited and shared several times, becoming viral. The Italian Pediatric Society is countering this fake news through different credible health authorities, such as WHO and CDC, and scientific reports. The Society promotes the use of masks among children, stressing that they are effective and necessary with proper use, along with other hygiene measures. Masks should be worn depending on the social situation, educating both children and parents on their appropriate use.
This article originally appeared in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics on Sept. 15, 2020, and was authored by Alberto Villani, Elena Bozzola, Annamaria Staiano, Rino Agostiniani, Antonio Del Vecchio, Nicola Zamperini, Francesco Marino, Davide Vecchio and Giovanni Corsello. See a pdf and fully sourced version of the article here. See a list of 22 studies on the effectiveness of facemasks in general as a low-cost measure to slow the spread of covid, here.
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David S. says
Now you have these clowns saying its child abuse for any child to wear a mask Give Me A Break People.
Mark says
Every person reacts differently to these different masks. So your information is false.
Whathehck? says
If misinformation looks like Q, if it smells like Q… it is Q.
I used to think that Darwinism would take care of the weakest of mind who play the equivalent of Russian roulette by not wearing a mask. Now I realize these dimwits criminals are endangering children, they have no decency left in them.
Stop Covid, wear a mask and rejoin the human race.
Jimbo99 says
Here are scientific truth(s) of filtration & masks. They work like the HVAC filtration system for your house, instead of an air handler, your respiratory system is the air handler. So the mask traps particles that are larger than the actual filter. Every human has cilia in their air passages that traps particles. A mask is only as effective at capturing particles if the particles are larger than the weave. That said, as a person inhales & exhales those particles work into the filtration material. Eventually that in & out action and particles get past the filter and into your mouth and nasal passages. It’s why you have to replace a clogged HVAC filter in the air handler in your garage. So the mask does catch some particles, not all of them, eventually with a compromised filter, you will breathe in particles. Another example of a mask, your automobile has an air filter that needs to be replaced too. The oil filter of an automobile is like your kidneys filtering toxins from waste. Covid particles are smaller than dust particles. The mask weaves would have to rely on electro-static concept to capture these smaller Covid particles. Air molecules are smaller than Covid still, it’s why air for you to breathe passes thru a mask, at a reduced rate than the airflow without a mask.
I think the only reason children are being used in this debate is that children are always the battle cry to win compliance. I bet this year that no more children will die than ever have died. Covid in the last year & a half has morphed into a deadlier virus for children ? For 1.5 years Covid was an old people’s high risk virus, you can check the numbers, I already have. Source is FL Dept of Health data downloadable thru 3/31/2021 when deaths were at 97 (currently at 114 and has been since beginning of May 2021), nobody in Flagler county under the age of 48 died from Covid. Don’t allow another to manipulate their agenda using children to accomplish that manipulation.
County Age Victim Count
Flagler 48 2
Flagler 50 1
Flagler 56 1
Flagler 57 1
Flagler 58 1 6 6.1856%
Flagler 61 1
Flagler 63 2
Flagler 66 4
Flagler 67 2
Flagler 68 2
Flagler 69 3
Flagler 70 2
Flagler 71 7
Flagler 72 4
Flagler 73 5
Flagler 74 4
Flagler 75 3
Flagler 76 5
Flagler 77 5
Flagler 78 4
Flagler 79 5
Flagler 80 4
Flagler 81 2
Flagler 82 7
Flagler 83 3
Flagler 84 5
Flagler 85 2
Flagler 86 2
Flagler 90 1
Flagler 91 2
Flagler 92 2
Flagler 96 2
Flagler 99 1 91 93.8144%
97 97 100.0000%
Just me, anyone die in July 2021 yet in this 4th wave ?
Sherry says
It’s NOT simply just about the “DEATHS” caused by Covid. We must consider the pain and suffering, known/unknown long term medical problems, and medical costs (effecting each of us because of rising insurance premiums/taxpayer costs) of those who survive this horrible disease.
For the sake of us all. . . . STOP the BS. . . PLEASE GET VACCINATED!
Palm Coast Citizen says
I think you’re forgetting that a virus isn’t airborne on its own. It is usually transmitted via vapor or moisture, which is filtered via the mask. Water droplets.
Children do die from it. A 9 year old girl named Kimora Lynum died of COVID in Putnam County last year.
Death isn’t the only thing that happens, though: hospitalization with it, even with a survival, is not something anyone looks forward to, whether caught from a child interacting with everyone else’s child or not. We really don’t want this to get even worse. Even if we knew kids were immune from any harm but could still spread it, we’d want to ensure we are minimizing exposure to limit the impact on our community.