Do masks really cause pneumonia?

With a solution Ministry of Health Spain will again make the use of masks mandatory in health centers, as expected, hoaxes about this protective measure have returned. Of course, there are people who argue that this is useless and that it is a way to alienate the population. But there is the most creative option – the option of those who claim that masks cause pneumonia.

They are based on the fact that with further use of the mask bacteria, viruses and fungi which can enter the lungs and cause pneumonia there. There are even videos on social media and WhatsApp networks of supposed experts explaining how this happens. Some of them are actual videos that show bacteria that can grow in a mask. But there is something that is not emphasized. These are masks that have been misused.

When the public is asked to use a mask, they are expected to use it correctly. To this end, millions of awareness campaigns have been carried out since the start of the pandemic. With their help, we try to explain the dos and don’ts of using them. However, it should be noted that there are no scientific studies or clinical cases that prove that masks cause pneumonia, even when used incorrectly. This has not been established to happen to anyone. But of course there are many people who have developed pneumonia due to COVID-19 or flu. You just need to connect the dots.

Why is the claim that masks cause pneumonia a lie?

When masks are used correctly, bacteria or viruses that accumulate in them will be destroyed. our own bacteria and viruses. That is, they would come out of our respiratory tract. We cannot become infected with what we are already infected with. And we also cannot cause any infection on our own. microbiota. That is, microorganisms living with us cannot cause us any harm if they are harmless. And those that are not there will not cause us diseases that they have not yet caused us. For example, if we have COVID-19, we will not get any worse. for wearing a mask.

Now all this presupposes good use, and for this it is necessary to take into account, first of all, two factors. First, don’t use masks for longer than recommended. In this case, too much moisture will accumulate in it, which will promote the proliferation of more microorganisms. You should use the maximum that is provided by the manufacturer. And besides, if you see very damp or damagedit will have to be discarded first.

Now, during the pandemic, almost no one followed this principle. And the hospitals are not filled with sick people. bacterial pneumonia. This is another example of how it is quite bold to claim that masks cause pneumonia.

The second factor to take into account is hand hygiene and the mask itself. Before placing it, it is advisable to wash your hands to prevent the entry of microorganisms foreign to our respiratory tract. In addition, when storing, you should use a suitable container that does not accumulate moisture, and keep them outdoors at home after short periods of use. If they are stored directly in a pocket or bag, they can accumulate a lot of bacteria. But then again, a lot of people do this. And this does not mean that they develop pneumonia.

What do the experts say?

If it’s not true that masks cause pneumonia, then why are there videos of scientists talking about microorganisms that can grow in them?

There are several answers to this question, which we logically ask ourselves. First of all, many of these videos taken out of context. That is, these are scientists demonstrating microorganisms that can grow on masks over time to raise awareness about their proper use. People never talk about pneumonia due to improper use of masks.

On the other hand, we cannot be sure that these people are scientists. But even if they were, that doesn’t mean we should take everything they say at face value. We would fall into something known as authority bias, which we’ve seen a lot during the pandemic. People with scientific careers claiming that vaccines or masks contain graphene, and many other claims that have no scientific evidence.

Scientists also make mistakes or may have interests that lead them to make such statements. One thing is clear: we cannot be guided by what someone says, but by what the scientific community concludes based on many studies. In the case of masks Spanish Society of Pulmonology, for example, was one of the first to declare its effectiveness. If there really was a risk of pneumonia from consuming it, they would not have made such a statement.

So yes, masks are safe. And we would not have to come to this imposition from the Government if the pandemic had actually brought some benefit and taught us to use them as we should: when we have symptoms. If people with symptoms do not use them to protect the vulnerablewe’ll have to use them all.