Effectiveness of Face Masks and Respiratory Aid Devices for Prophylaxis against COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 epidemic was spread rapidly around the world in
2019, and has greatly affected peoples general interaction, their work habits, daily
lives and businesses. A personnel protection against the spread of COVID-19 is not
only beneficial but is critically important especially for those working in medical
fields. Current studies were performed to review the use and benefits of face mask
and respiratory aid devices in order to control the spread of COVID-19. The
respiratory aids devices (RADs) may be recommended as anti-COVID-19 masks
rather than surgical masks. However, RADs having P and R series filters do not
prevent the infiltration of coronavirus due to its smaller size as compared to the
filtration capacity of filters. The N99 and N100 filters cause a difficulty in
breathing; it is difficult to wear such sort of respirators for a longer time. N95
respirators are recommended by medical professionals as they provide lesser
(almost half) respiratory resistance. However, wearing of face masks is also
involved some risks and side effects which may include physiological and disturbing
effects, difficulty in breathing, affecting the volume and quality of sound, decrease of
innate immunity, cardiopulmonary overload and increase in contamination chances
due to development of humid habitat inside the mask.