Year : 2019

Volume : Volume 10

Issue : Issue 4

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Shreyas N Shah.
vrajdent@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  In the last twenty years, the world has faced a series of epidemics such as the SARS-CoV, H1N1 influenza and MERS-CoV. Later in December 31 2019, unexplained respiratory infection cases were reported in the city Wuhan, Hubei, China, which was later concluded to be the novel Coronavirus (nCoV). Within a short period of time, numerous amounts of cases were reported from all over the world with time WHO issued a set of guidelines which included the mode of transmission of the infection and also the protocols to be followed to prevent the excessive progression of the infection. Safety of frontline health care workers is of greater concern as they come in direct contact with the patients of COVID-19. So as to ensure their utmost safety, certain protective measures were incorporated such as the N95 respirator, masks and PPE. Use of masks as a protection against the infection became a mandatory part of the preventive measures adopted by the public. This review article focuses on the difficulties faced by healthcare workers due to the prolonged use of masks and PPE.

Keywords: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus (SARS-CoV), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), Novel Coronavirus (nCoV), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).