[1805–15; cephal- + -itis]This word is first recorded in the period 1805–15. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: alpaca, backlash, napoleon, polarization, soufflé-itis is a suffix used in pathological terms that denote inflammation of an organ (bronchitis; gastritis; neuritis) and hence, in extended senses, nouns denoting abnormal states or conditions, excesses,tendencies, obsessions, etc. (telephonitis; baseballitis)