What is acaraphobia?

Acaraphobia is a specific phobia, an anxiety disorder, in which a person has a persistent and excessive fear of mites, sometimes called "harmless little creatures". People with acaraphobia usually develop the fear after having the negative experience of being bitten by a mite. The fear can escalate after a person is informed of the variety of species of mites, and can be accompanied by the sensation of being surrounded by insects, which results in a paralyzing fear that sometimes leads people to avoid contact with the outdoor world.