[Emetophobia: morbid fear of vomiting and nausea]. / Emetophobia: sjúklegur ótti við uppköst og ógleði.

Emetophobia is an intense, irrational fear or anxiety of or pertaining to vomiting. It is classified among specific phobias in ICD-10 and DSM-IV. This disorder is often hidden because of the shame associated with it among sufferers. As a result emetophobia has been studied less than most other anxiety disorders. Not much is known about the epidemiology, treatment and outcome of this disorder. We describe a woman in her thirties who has been living with emetophobia since she experienced emesis two successive Christmas Eves as a child. Subsequently her fear of vomiting has influenced many aspects of her daily life.

Bacterial meningitis in children in Iceland, 1975-2010: a nationwide epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial meningitis is a serious and potentially rapid life-threatening disease. Therefore, to ensure appropriate treatment, early recognition of signs and symptoms is imperative, along with knowledge of the epidemiology and microbiology of the disease. METHODS: A long-term, nationwide epidemiological study of bacterial causes of meningitis in children (≤ 18 y) in Iceland during the period 1975-2010 was carried out. A detailed chart review was performed of all cases diagnosed in 1995-2010. RESULTS: A total of 477 children were diagnosed with bacterial meningitis during the period 1975-2010. Of these, 67% were aged under 5 y. The most common pathogens were Neisseria meningitidis (n = 265), Haemophilus influenzae (n = 132), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 47), and Streptococcus agalactiae (n = 19); their incidences varied according to age. The age-specific incidence (cases/100,000/y) dropped from 26 in 1975 to 1 in 2010 (p < 0.001). The most common symptoms during the period 1995-2010 were fever (92%), vomiting (67%), nuchal rigidity (60%), and rashes/petechiae (51%). H. influenzae type b disappeared following implementation of Hib vaccination in 1989, and, likewise, the incidence of meningococcal meningitis fell significantly after vaccination against meningococcus serogroup C was initiated in 2002 (p < 0.001). The overall 30-day case fatality rate of bacterial meningitis was 4.4% and remained unchanged during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of childhood bacterial meningitis has been reduced significantly by successful vaccinations against H. influenzae type b and N. meningitidis serogroup C. Nevertheless, the case fatality rate has remained unchanged and thus the disease is still a serious threat to childhood health. Further prevention by novel vaccines and improved management of childhood meningitis is an exciting challenge.