International Lung Day 2020 – Dr Uta Butt from the German Respiratory Health League in an interview on wearing face masks and the importance of theme days

PARI BLOG: Dr Butt how important are days like International Lung Day for people with respiratory diseases?

Dr. Uta Butt: Theme days offer a wonderful opportunity to find out about the subject in hand. Many organisations and associations use theme days for their campaigns and special offers. The theme day puts a subject centre stage and it enjoys more extensive reporting, as different participants highlight different facets of a subject.

PARI BLOG: The German Lung Day for 2020 was brought forward because of coronavirus and people were able to ask questions in a virtual setting which were then answered by specialists by video message. Did that go down well? 

Dr. Uta Butt: There was enormous interest. We answered every – literally every single – question in the follow-up to the event. Many thanks to all lecturers who put in such a sterling effort. There was also great demand for information on the issue of rare diseases. Covid-19 is new. This is why, understandably, the experience we have gained so far is with what is common. People with rare diseases are anxious because there isn’t much information out there on their specific disease. Risk assessment was a major issue.

PARI BLOG: What is especially important to take into account when it comes to assessing risk? 

Dr. Uta Butt: It’s important that patients carry on taking their prescribed therapy. Generally, the risk of the respiratory disorder becoming worse is much higher than the risk posed by a prescribed medication. I would therefore appeal to everybody to talk to their doctor if they are unsure. And they should certainly not stop taking the prescribed therapy they need without consulting their doctor.

PARI BLOG: You yourself were available for questions and answers on the topic “Which mask for which occasion - what to consider when using face masks?" People asked questions like, how long you can wear FFP masks or if a face shield is a viable alternative. What did you advise?  

Dr. Uta Butt: A healthy person can wear an FFP mask for one to four hours, depending on physical exertion. Then they need a 30-minute break. If the mask is damp it should be replaced, depending on how long it has already been worn. FFP masks are generally single-use items and should be disposed of at the end of the day.

Only a handful of people are exempt from wearing a face mask. They are often so ill that they should avoid crowds as a general rule. They should consult their doctor to see what options they have. For instance, there are face masks with an expiratory valve.

A face shield only offers minimal protection and does not meet the requirements for face masks for routine use. There are now also face shields that draw the air down the body and therefore provide better protection than conventional models.