What Causes Trypanophobia?

A patient comes into the doctor’s office for a routine physical. The doctor notes the need for a booster vaccine. As the nurse enters with the needle, the patient looks tense, and their heart rate and breathing increase. A few moments after the shot has been administered, the patient slumps down, unconscious. It is a classic case of trypanophobia, also known as needle phobia. This phobia is often more than a fear of needles. A portion of the population has bodies that react to a needle stick with the vasovagal reflex, a sudden rise and drop in blood pressure, leading to dizziness, disorientation, and fainting.