HealthAugust 30, 2026

hydrophobia

HY-druh-FOH-bee-uh

Definition

A specific symptom of rabies characterized by an intense fear of water, often manifesting as painful throat spasms when attempting to drink.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek words 'hydor' meaning water and 'phobos' meaning fear, it historically describes an irrational fear of water but is used medically to denote a classic clinical sign of rabies.

In the news

In this article, hydrophobia is listed as a primary indicator of the 'furious' form of rabies that occurs as the virus progresses.

Warning Over Rabies Exposure Risk at Petting Zoo—What Are the Symptoms?

Read the full article ↗

Newsweek

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