Materials and methods

• A 15-item questionnaire was developed.
• The records of patients who underwent allergy tests were extracted and analyzed.
• 50 participants with pollen allergy were enrolled in the study.
• Answers to the questions were recorded telephonically.

Results:

60% of the participants were female and 40% were male, with the Mean age being 34.34 ± 9.41 years. 

92% of participants defined their nasal symptoms as severe-moderate in the pre-pandemic period, which was decreased to 56% during the pandemic after using face masks.

For ocular symptoms also, the rate decreased from 60% to 32%. 

Mask use reduced both nasal and ocular symptoms significantly. Allergy symptoms like sneezing and nasal discharge showed major regression.

Conclusions: 

The use of face masks can decrease nasal and ocular allergic rhinitis symptoms in people with pollen allergy.

Source- Mengi E, Kara CO, AlptürkU, Topuz B. The effect of face mask usage on the allergic rhinitis symptoms in patients with pollen allergy during the covid-19 pandemic. Am J Otolaryngol. Jan-Feb 2022;43(1):103206.