Japanese Pediatricians Warn Masks Dangerous For Kids Under 2

A group of Japanese doctors has warned that children under 2 years old could have more difficulty breathing with masks on.

The Japan Pediatric Association said that the masks could increase the risk of heat stroke and choking in infants and has discouraged the use of masks on young children.

The warning comes as the Japanese prime minister lifted the state of emergency in several Japanese cities as the number of new coronavirus infections fell across the country.

The association said in circulating pamphlets that infants have narrower airways which may result in increased risk for lung problems if their breathing is impaired by the masks.

A mask also makes it difficult for parents to notice changes on the child’s face indicating distress like changes in face color, expression and breathing patterns.

The association said that masks are not necessary for infants under two because they have a relatively low risk for coronavirus infections.

It also said that there were very few reported cases of coronavirus among children and that those who test positive are more likely to have been infected by family members instead of schools and daycare centers.

“Let's stop the use of masks for children under two-years-old,” the associations said on its website.

The University of California, Davis had already warned in a press release in April that masks pose the same risks that the Japanese association recently warned about.

The statement on the UC Davis website said that the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend putting masks on children under the age of 2 even as it recommended the use of cloth masks for general use.

It also said that masks are choking hazards for young children and should not be routinely used by them.

The CDC has already clarified that the dangers of suffocation for children are not necessarily true for adults.

Dr. Jennifer Shu, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics told USA Today that the warning against using masks is only true for older children and adults who need assistance when taking masks off or who have trouble breathing.

Shu also said that parents and guardians should ask their doctors about using masks on their children or patients if they have concerns.