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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: drskoseoglu@gmail.com
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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

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Footnotes

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

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