A German study has collected information on more than 25,000 children that routinely use masks against Coronavirus.
In order to gather information about the issue, the University of Witten/Herdecke in Germany setup an online registry (direct link to survey) where parents, doctors, pedagogues and others can submit their information on the issue.
The study is available on the Research Square website. The study official name is Corona children studies “Co-Ki”: First results of a Germany-wide registry on mouth and nose covering (mask) in children
German Study Results On Children Using Masks
According to the Abstract, only 6 days after the registry was created the researchers had information on more than 25,000 children:
“By 26.10.2020 the registry had been used by 20,353 people. In this publication we report the results from the parents, who entered data on a total of 25,930 children. The average wearing time of the mask was 270 minutes per day. Impairments caused by wearing the mask were reported by 68% of the parents. These included irritability (60%), headache (53%), difficulty concentrating (50%), less happiness (49%), reluctance to go to school/kindergarten (44%), malaise (42%) impaired learning (38%) and drowsiness or fatigue (37%).“
Those are rather startling numbers. More than half of the children that wear masks are suffering from headaches. Approximately half experience less happiness. And more than a third suffer from impaired learning.
Study Reach
The following map outlines the population distribution of the children that were involved in the study.
The study was only conducted in Germany so far and has not been extended to other countries.
Deeper Insights Into The German Study
Not only are the results of the study interesting, but the recommendations in the “Conclusion For The Practice” section are also interesting. They’re listed as follows:
“A certain percentage of children and adolescents have non-negligible complaints when wearing the mask. These children should not be stigmatized.”
“This worldwide first registry on side effects of the mask reflects the spectrum of symptoms in children and adolescents.”
“A precise benefit-risk analysis is urgently required. The occurrence of reported side effects in children due to wearing the masks must be taken seriously and requires a precise clarification of the accompanying health circumstances, the situation of wearing the mask (duration, breaks and mask type) and the school situation.”
“Furthermore, all parents, doctors, pedagogues and others are invited to participate in www.co-ki-masken.de to document their observations on effects that occur when wearing the mask. The registry will also be available in English from 15.12.2020.”
Doctors are referring to the study as well:
Over 20,000 parents in Germany report harm to their children from mask-wearing. We should all put them where they belong–in the trash. https://t.co/OcyojvUB1D
— Dr. Mark McDonald (@MMcDonaldMD) January 5, 2021
And from another Doctor:
While observational and not a randomized controlled trial, we need to pay attention to any potential harms of medical interventions
— Patrick Phillips MD (@DrP_MD) January 4, 2021
So much more when these interventions are imposed on healthy children
Sound public policy requires a full consideration of the benefits and harms https://t.co/KoSITUwGR5
This German study comes in light of another major Dutch study that was published in November of 2020. The Dutch study made headlines when it concluded that wearing surgical masks provides very little protection to the people that wear the masks.
