File:Squirm, Oct 1978, Richard Curtis, publ. Sphere, 0-7221-2732-4, £, 160pp, pb.jpg

Scoleciphobia (So-leh-kee-pho-be-ah) is also known by other names like Vermiphobia and Helminthophobia. They all mean the persistent and irrational fear of worms. The word Scoleciphobia originates from Greek Scoleci meaning parasitic worms and phobos meaning deep dread or aversion. Helminthophobia is the secondary fear of one’s body being infested or attacked by worms (Helmintho is another Greek word for worms.