Illustration of wearing a mask.

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GILE Michel / SIPA

  • A German study on the wearing of masks in children is relayed on social networks.

  • However, the results of this study must be taken with a lot of hindsight.

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Headaches, reluctance to go to school, drowsiness and fatigue, even learning disabilities.

This would be the consequence of wearing a mask in some children, according to a visual relayed online.

The visual is based on figures from a German study: thus 57% of children wearing the mask suffer from headaches, 44% are reluctant to go to school, 49% have “less happiness” and 38% would experience learning disabilities.

This visual is based on a German study, which does not allow the conclusion that the declared effects are linked to wearing a mask.

- Facebook screenshot

Data that alert, while wearing a mask is mandatory in France for schoolchildren from six years old since October 30.

However, the results of this study must be taken with a lot of hindsight.



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The study was carried out based on statements from 17,854 parents on an online questionnaire compiled by scientists at the German University of Witten-Herdecke.

Its authors warn about the risk of making a too rapid comparison between the observations of the parents and the wearing of the mask.

The data observed by parents "is not necessarily linked or caused by wearing the mask," they stress.

In addition, the researchers point to the limits of the use of an online questionnaire, such as the risk of a lack of diversity in the recruitment of parents.

They also point out that the link to the questionnaire was found on forums "which criticize the government's anti-coronavirus protective measures".

A point that they qualify by stressing that 26% of the parents participating in the questionnaire did not notice a complaint from their child about wearing a mask.

Another important limitation is the absence of a control group, which makes it possible to compare the effects of the mask with a group not wearing one.

In addition, this work has not yet been peer-reviewed, one of the quality guarantees of a scientific study.

If some children experience difficulties because of wearing a mask, this study does not show it.

The secretary general of the French Pediatric Society, Professor Romain Basmaci, told AFP that it was still too early to assess the possible effects of wearing a mask, since it has not been imposed for long enough in schools.

In an opinion issued on October 29, the High Council for Public Health stressed "that there are no dermatological, pneumological, ENT and phoniatric or psychiatric contraindications currently documented to wearing a mask, whatever its type".

The American Academy of Pediatrics has also spoken out in favor of wearing masks by children.

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