Which of the following conditions is a fungal infection of the nail?

Which of the following conditions is a fungal infection of the nail?

• A. Onychomycosis
• B. Paronychia
• C. Hangnail
• D. Pterygium

Answer: (A)

Fungal infection of the nail is called onychomycosis. It involves the nail itself, often causing thickened, discolored, crumbly, and distorted nails, usually due to dermatophytes such as Trichophyton species. This distinguishes it from infections of surrounding tissue or skin issues: paronychia affects the nail folds around the nail, hangnail is a torn piece of skin near the nail, and pterygium is scar tissue that alters nail growth rather than an infection of the nail itself. Onychomycosis is the term that best describes a fungal invasion of the nail unit.

Fungal infection of the nail is called onychomycosis. It involves the nail itself, often causing thickened, discolored, crumbly, and distorted nails, usually due to dermatophytes such as Trichophyton species. This distinguishes it from infections of surrounding tissue or skin issues: paronychia affects the nail folds around the nail, hangnail is a torn piece of skin near the nail, and pterygium is scar tissue that alters nail growth rather than an infection of the nail itself. Onychomycosis is the term that best describes a fungal invasion of the nail unit.