ABSTRACT
Background and Aims: Despite the significant milestone of vaccine discovery, the spread of misinformation and pseudoscientific claims has resulted in an increasing number of people refusing vaccination in Syria. In this study, we aimed to explore fears and misconceptions towards COVID-19 vaccines among the Syrian population. Methods: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study between January and May 2022, using a convenience sample of 10,006 participants aged at least 18 years and living in Syria. We administered a validated online/paper questionnaire and conducted face-to-face interviews. We used SPSS software (version 26) for statistical analysis, assessing our data using frequency and χ 2 tests, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The majority of the participants were female 6048 (60.4%), university degree holders 7304 (73%), and from urban areas 8015 (80.1%). Approximately half of the participants 5021 (50.2%) belonged to the medical sector (49% had concerns about the vaccine). Females, university degree holders, and participants with a history of symptomatic COVID-19 were more likely to have fears about the vaccines. The main concerns about the vaccines were the rapid development, fears of blood clots, and common side effects. The prevalence of some misconceptions was relatively high, such as the belief that the vaccine is an experiment or a secret plan to reduce the population. Reliable sources are crucial to fight misleading information on social media. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine is key to controlling the spread, but acceptance rate is critical. High variability in vaccine acceptance and high vaccine hesitancy can affect the efforts to terminate the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing the barriers associated with the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination will be the cornerstone to achieving maximum vaccination coverage. It is important to consider the reasons for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine when interpreting the results of any study on vaccine attitudes among the Syrian population.
ABSTRACT
Retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma (CL) is a rare condition and accounts for 1% of all CL. It can be congenital in children associated with genetic disorders or acquired in adults with chronic diseases. Case presentation: In the present case, the girl complained of abdominal pain and dysuria. Clinical examinations showed a palpitated mass in her left pelvis; a radiology exam revealed a cystic mass infiltrating the spleen and pancreatic tail, reaching the pelvis. The mass, including the spleen and pancreatic tail, among the cystic compound was removed. The final diagnosis of benign CL was done based on a histopathology exam. A one-year follow-up showed no signs of recurrence. Clinical discussion: CL is usually asymptomatic. The retroperitoneal location of the mass delayed the diagnosis and allowed the mass to grow to a large size and compress nearby structures. The typical presentation of CL is usually a substantial, multichambers cystic mass. However, it could be easily misdiagnosed with other cystic tumors of the pancreas. Age-based differential diagnosis should be taken into consideration in children as abdominal mass can originate from gastrointestinal or genitourinary systems. Conclusion: The imaging features of CL are insufficient, and the final diagnosis depends on the histopathology exam. Furthermore, CL can mimic pancreatic cysts in its presentation and cite; therefore, it must be included in the diagnosing strategy whenever a retroperitoneal cyst is being investigated, as imaging features can be misleading. Surgical treatment of CL should be associated with long-term ultrasound follow-up to identify and manage recurrence early.
