RABIES

Originally called hydrophobia, rabies is not a phobia at all. It is a virulent infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans, usually through a bite or other transfer of infected saliva. Symptoms include pain, fever, excessive salivation (foaming at the mouth) hallucination and paralysis of the muscles. Once the infection establishes in the brain, death occurs within 2-10 days. There is a vaccine available. The name hydrophobia comes from the victim's aversion to drinking water due to spasmodic response while swallowing.