Trypanophobia

Trypanophobia, commonly called fear of needles, is the extreme fear of medical procedures involving injections or hypodermic needles. It was officially recognized in 1994 as a specific phobia within the blood-injection-injury category of the DSM-IV. At least 10 percent of American adults report some degree of needle fear, and about 3 to 4 percent meet the stricter criteria for the diagnosed phobia, though the true rate is likely higher due to underreporting. Prevalence among children has risen sharply, from about 25 percent in 1995 to 65 percent by 2012 among those born after 1999. The fear can be severe enough that sufferers avoid necessary medical care such as vaccination and blood tests, and 3.5 to 10 percent of those affected may lose consciousness during a needle procedure through a vasovagal response.