Is N95 face mask linked to dizziness and headache?

OBJECTIVES: During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals are recommended to use PPE to prevent the transmission of disease. Healthcare workers who use N95 FFR, which has an important place, experience complaints such as headache and dizziness. In this study, we plan to find the cause of these complaints and aim to clarify whether they are associated with the use of N95 mask. METHOD: Healthcare workers first put on a surgical mask for at least 1 h and a maximum of 4 h, this process was then repeated on another day with the same workers wearing N95 masks. After removing the mask, capillary blood gases were taken and a questionnaire was given. RESULTS: Thirty-four participants over the age of 18 were included in the study; 19 participants were female (56%) and 15 male (44%). The results of the capillary blood gas analysis after the use of surgical mask and N95 mask, respectively: pH: 7.43 ± 0.03; 7.48 ± 0.04 (p < 0.001); pCO2: 37.33 ± 8.81; 28.46 ± 7.77 mmHg (p < 0.001); HCO3: 24.92 ± 2.86; 23.73 ± 3.29 mmol/L (p = 0.131); Base excess (BE): 1.40 (- 3.90-3.10); - 2.68 (- 4.50-1.20) [median (Q1-Q3)] (p = 0.039); lactate: 1.74 ± 0.68; 1.91 ± 0.61 (p = 0314). Headache, attention deficit and difficulty in concentrating were significantly higher after using N95 mask. CONCLUSION: Respiratory alkalosis and hypocarbia were detected after the use of N95. Acute respiratory alkalosis can cause headache, anxiety, tremor, muscle cramps. In this study, it was quantitatively shown that the participants' symptoms were due to respiratory alkalosis and hypocarbia.

What chances do children have against COVID-19? Is the answer hidden within the thymus?

A new type of coronavirus named as SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has begun to threaten human health. As with other types of coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 affects children less frequently, and it has been observed that the disease is mild. In the pathogenesis of a standard viral infection, the pathogen's contact with the mucosa is initially followed by an innate immunity response. T cells are the primary decisive element in adaptive immunity capability. For this reason, the adaptive immune response mediated by the thymus is a process that regulates the immune response responsible for preventing invasive damage from a virus. Regulatory T cells (T-reg) are active during the early periods of life and have precise roles in immunomodulation. The thymus is highly active in the intrauterine and neonatal period; it begins to shrink after birth and continues its activity until adolescence. The loss of T-reg function by age results in difficulty with the control of the immune response, increased inflammation as shown in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as an inflammatory storm. Also, the thymus is typically able to replace the T cells destroyed by apoptosis caused by the virus. Thymus and T cells are the key factors of pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 in children.Conclusion: We speculated that thymus activity and T lymphocyte function in children protect them against the virus effects. Stimulating and preventing the inhibition of the thymus can be possible treatment components against COVID-19. What is Known: • The SARS-CoV-2 infection does not often progress with an invasive clinic in children. • Thymus activity and T lymphocyte functions are highly active in children. What is New: • Effective thymus activity and T lymphocyte function in children protect them against the invasive SARS-CoV-2 infection. • Stimulating and preventing the inhibition of the thymus can be possible treatment components against COVID-19.