HYDROPHOBY Meaning and
Definition
-
Hydrophobia is a medical term used to describe an extreme fear or aversion to water. It is derived from the Greek words "hydor" meaning water and "phobos" meaning fear. Hydrophobia is often associated with the symptomatology of rabies, a viral disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals.
In the context of rabies, hydrophobia refers to the spasms and throat contractions experienced by infected individuals when attempting to swallow liquids. These symptoms are the result of the virus attacking the central nervous system and can lead to a state of panic and agitation when presented with water or the sound of running water. The fear of water seen in rabies patients is believed to be caused by the irritation and inflammation of the nerves controlling swallowing and the reflexes associated with it.
Outside of the medical sphere, hydrophobia can also be used to describe an intense fear of water or a strong aversion to aquatic environments. This phobia can be rooted in traumatic experiences, such as near-drowning incidents, or arise from irrational feelings of anxiety or panic when exposed to bodies of water. Individuals with hydrophobia often exhibit symptoms of anxiety, increased heart rate, sweating, and a strong desire to avoid any contact with water, including swimming, being near pools, or even taking showers.
Overall, hydrophobia is a term used both in medical and non-medical contexts to describe an intense fear, aversion, or physical response to water.
Common Misspellings for HYDROPHOBY
- gydrophoby
- bydrophoby
- nydrophoby
- jydrophoby
- uydrophoby
- yydrophoby
- htdrophoby
- hgdrophoby
- hhdrophoby
- hudrophoby
- h7drophoby
- h6drophoby
- hysrophoby
- hyxrophoby
- hycrophoby
- hyfrophoby
- hyrrophoby
- hyerophoby
- hydeophoby
Etymology of HYDROPHOBY
The word "hydrophoby" comes from the Greek roots "hydro" meaning "water" and "phobos" meaning "fear" or "dread". It originated in the 17th century and was primarily used to refer to a fear or aversion to water. Eventually, the term was specifically associated with a symptom of the disease rabies, where patients develop an aversion to drinking water due to spasms and difficulty swallowing.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
