Phthisiophobia is the fear of tuberculosis, a bacterial infection that affects the lungs. It is a specific phobia that can cause anxiety and panic attacks in those who suffer from it. Some synonyms for phthisiophobia include tuberculophobia, consumptionophobia, and tuberculosis anxiety. Tuberculophobia is a more commonly used term for this fear and it is derived from tuberculosis. Consumptionophobia is another synonym that is derived from the Latin word "consumptio" which means "wasting away". Regardless of the term used, phthisiophobia is a serious condition that needs to be addressed through counselling or therapy to help those who suffer from it.