Face masks offer slight protective effect from flu-like illness

Face masks offer slight protective effect from flu-like illness

(HealthDay)—Wearing face masks could be slightly protective against primary infection with influenza-like illness from casual community contact, according to a review that has not yet been peer reviewed and was posted online April 6 at medRxiv.org.

Julii Brainard, Ph.D., from Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, and colleagues reviewed 31 eligible studies, including 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), relating to development of respiratory illness to examine the value of wearing face masks.

The researchers found that most studies reported on the use of medical-grade surgical paper masks. Wearing a was associated with a very slight reduction in the odds of developing influenza-like illness/respiratory symptoms in three RCTs (odds ratio, 0.94; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.75 to 1.19). Observational studies suggested greater effectiveness. The odds of further household members becoming ill were modestly reduced when both housemates and an infected household member wore face masks (odds ratio, 0.81; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.48 to 1.37). A very small protective effect was seen if only the well person (odds ratio, 0.93; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.68 to 1.28) or the infected person (odds ratio, 0.95; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.53 to 1.72) wore a face mask.

"Although we can support who choose to wear masks to avoid infection, we want to remind everyone that the people who most need to wear masks, to protect us all, are ," Brainard said in a statement. "We are all in more danger from COVID-19 if health care workers cannot obtain the they need, which could happen if community demand for face masks becomes too high."

More information: Abstract/Full Text

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Citation: Face masks offer slight protective effect from flu-like illness (2020, April 10) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-masks-slight-effect-flu-like-illness.html
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