The concern centres on developing tuberculosis.

Possible triggers

Hearing about tuberculosis, discussing a possible exposure or anticipating a relevant screening appointment.

Name origin

Combines tuberculosis with -phobia (fear). The illness name comes from Latin tuberculum (small swelling).

Also known as

Phthisiophobia

A fear centred on perceived ugliness can affect social situations, mirrors, images and encounters with appearance differences. It may lead to avoidance, self-monitoring or distress around features judged as unattractive, making everyday interactions feel shaped by appearance rather than the situation itself.

Possible triggers

Encountering an appearance you perceive negatively or anticipating being confronted with something you regard as ugly.

Name origin

From Greek kakos (bad) and -phobia.

A fear of urination can affect everyday situations involving public toilet, using a loo, bathroom anxiety and peeing. It may lead to monitoring sensations or bodily changes, avoiding particular situations, seeking reassurance, or organising routines around preventing the feared outcome.

Possible triggers

Feeling the need to urinate, approaching a toilet or anticipating using an unfamiliar bathroom.

Name origin

From Greek ouron (urine) and -phobia.

A fear of vaccinations can make arranging or attending an appointment feel difficult. It may lead to postponing appointments or treatment, worrying for days beforehand, seeking repeated reassurance, or avoiding healthcare that would otherwise be straightforward.

Possible triggers

Receiving a vaccination invitation, discussing the appointment or entering the treatment room.

Name origin

From Latin vacca (cow, via vaccination history) and -phobia.

A fear of veins can affect looking at your arms, seeing visible veins on other people, blood tests and other medical situations. It may lead to looking away, covering parts of the body, avoiding appointments or becoming highly alert to veins beneath the skin.

Possible triggers

Noticing visible veins, seeing a close-up anatomical image or anticipating a vein-related examination.

Name origin

From Greek phleps (vein) and -phobia.

A fear of vomiting can influence eating, travel, social plans, work and contact with illness. It may involve monitoring food, avoiding certain places or people, seeking reassurance, or becoming highly alert to nausea and other normal body sensations.

Possible triggers

Examples include feeling nauseous, seeing someone being sick, hearing talk about vomiting or visiting somewhere unfamiliar without knowing where the toilets are.

Name origin

From Greek emetos (vomit) and -phobia.

This term describes excessive fear related to COVID-19, including fear of becoming infected or of its consequences.

Possible triggers

Hearing COVID-19 discussed, anticipating possible exposure or waiting for a relevant test result.

Name origin

A modern name combining corona, shortened from coronavirus, with -phobia (fear).

Hypochondriasis, also called hypochondria, is an older diagnostic term for persistent worry about having a serious illness. Current assessment may identify illness anxiety disorder or somatic symptom disorder, depending on the symptoms. These are not simply specific phobias. Health anxiety can involve repeated checking or seeking reassurance, and can continue despite reassuring test results. New or unexplained symptoms still deserve appropriate medical assessment.

Possible triggers

Noticing an unfamiliar bodily sensation, reading health information or waiting for reassurance about a health concern.

Name origin

From Greek hypo (under) and khondros (cartilage). The original anatomical meaning referred to the area beneath the ribs.