A fear of sunlight can affect everyday situations involving bright sun, sun exposure, UV rays and bright day.

Possible triggers

Stepping from shade into sunshine, sitting beside a sunlit window or planning a daytime outdoor activity.

Name origin

From Greek helios (sun) and -phobia.

A fear of surgical procedures can affect everyday situations involving being operated on, operating theatre, surgery and operation. 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 surgery date, discussing an operation or entering a surgical department.

Name origin

From Greek ergasia (work or procedure) and -phobia.

A fear of swallowing can affect everyday situations involving food stuck, throat tight, choking and eating anxiety. It may lead to restricting foods, eating very cautiously, checking sensations while swallowing, avoiding meals or relying on a narrow set of familiar choices.

Possible triggers

Preparing to swallow a mouthful, eating a texture you find difficult or anticipating a meal away from home.

Name origin

From Greek phagein (to eat) and -phobia.

Symbolism is the focus of this fear.

Possible triggers

Encountering a symbolic image, discussing what a sign represents or noticing a symbol with personal significance.

Name origin

Combines symbol with -phobia (fear). Symbol comes through Latin from Greek symbolon, meaning a sign or token.

A fear of symmetry can affect everyday situations involving even pattern, perfect alignment, balanced shapes and symmetry. It may lead to scanning for the sensation or visual cue, avoiding particular environments or objects, leaving situations early, or arranging surroundings to prevent encountering it.

Possible triggers

Looking at a perfectly mirrored pattern, a symmetrical arrangement of objects or a balanced geometric design.

Name origin

From Greek symmetros (symmetrical) and -phobia.

The concern centres on this particular infection, rather than sexually transmitted infections in general.

Possible triggers

Reading about syphilis, discussing a possible exposure or awaiting a relevant test result.

Name origin

Combines syphilis with -phobia (fear). The illness takes its name from Syphilus, a character in a sixteenth-century poem.

A fear of tapeworms can affect everyday situations involving parasite inside body, intestinal parasite, worm infection and tapeworm. It may lead to scanning surroundings, avoiding places where the animal might appear, asking other people to check or deal with it, or leaving suddenly when one is seen.

Possible triggers

Reading about tapeworms, seeing a parasite illustration or discussing a possible tapeworm infection.

Name origin

From Greek tainia (tapeworm) and -phobia.

Also known as

Teniophobia

A fear of taste can affect everyday situations involving strong flavour, bitter taste, new flavours and an unfamiliar taste. It may lead to scanning for the sensation or visual cue, avoiding particular environments or objects, leaving situations early, or arranging surroundings to prevent encountering it.

Possible triggers

Trying an unfamiliar flavour, tasting a sauce or anticipating a strong taste in food.

Name origin

From Greek geusis (taste) and -phobia.

Also known as

Geumaphobia

A fear of teenagers can affect everyday situations involving school pupils, youth groups, teens and adolescents. It may lead to avoiding interaction, rehearsing what to say, monitoring other people’s reactions, or replaying encounters afterwards.

Possible triggers

Passing a group of teenagers, attending an event with adolescents or anticipating interaction with them.

Name origin

From Greek ephebos (youth) and -phobia.

This name concerns termites specifically. Concern about actual damage to a building is a practical issue and is not, on its own, a phobia.

Possible triggers

Seeing termites on wood, finding an image of a termite colony, or hearing that termites have been found in a building.

Possible name origin

Isoptera is a scientific name used for termites. It supplies the first part of this name, followed by phobia, from Greek phobos, fear.