Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Exam Prep 2025 – Complete Practice Resource

Paronychia is an infection of the skin surrounding the nail, commonly resulting from bacteria or fungi. The hallmark signs of paronychia include pain, swelling, and erythema around the nail fold. This inflammation occurs as the infectious process affects the tissues adjacent to the nail, leading to these characteristic symptoms.

In contrast, vesicular lesions around the toe are more indicative of conditions like herpes simplex or other viral infections, which do not specifically characterize paronychia. Scaly patches are associated with dermatological conditions such as psoriasis or tinea infections, which again do not relate to paronychia. Lastly, dark, necrotizing tissue can indicate more severe infections or conditions such as necrotizing fasciitis or gangrene, which are not typical of paronychia. Therefore, the pain and redness around the nail fold is the defining feature of paronychia.