The Effects of the Face Mask on the Skin Underneath: A Prospective Survey During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to explore the prevalence and possible risk factors to prevent the face mask related adverse skin reactions during the ongoing COVID-19 after a recommendation of face mask wearing for public use in Thailand. RESULTS: The prevalence of face mask related adverse skin reactions was 454 cases (54.5%), of which acne was the most frequent (399; 39.9%), followed by rashes on the face (154; 18.4%), and itch symptoms (130; 15.6%). Wearing a surgical mask showed a higher risk of adverse skin reaction compared to a cloth mask, OR (95% CI) = 1.54 (1.16-2.06). A duration of face mask wearing of more than 4 hours/day and the reuse of face masks increased the risk of adverse skin reactions compared to changing the mask every day, adjusted OR(95% CI) = 1.96 (1.29-2.98), and 1.5 (1.11-2.02). CONCLUSION: Suggestions were made for wearing a cloth mask in non-health care workers (HCW) to decrease the risk of face mask related adverse skin reactions. This suggestion could potentially help in decreasing the demand of surgical masks which should be reserved for the HCW population during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Perinatal death pattern in the four districts of Thailand: findings from the Prospective Cohort Study of Thai Children (PCTC).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the magnitude and investigate causes of perinatal deaths of a cohort of the Prospective Cohort Study of Thai Children. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A semi-structured verbal autopsy questionnaire and review of medical records were used to ascertain the causes of deaths during the perinatal period in four districts of Thailand. RESULTS: The total numbers of 3,522 babies (with 28 pairs of twins) were born from 3,494 pregnant women. The perinatal mortality rate was 10.69 per 1,000 total births, the stillbirth rate was 6.75 per 1,000 births, and the early neonatal mortality rate was 3.97 per 1,000 live-births. About 37.8% of the perinatal deaths were agreed to by two pediatricians and a neonatologist as preventable. About 90% of the preventable stillbirths occurred in the antepartum period. CONCLUSION: Findings from the present study indicates that to further reduce the perinatal death rate, attention should be focused on reducing the stillbirths by a quality antenatal care.