Paronychia is best described as which of the following?

• A. An infection around the nail that is not caused by fungus
• B. A fungal infection of the nail
• C. A dryness condition of the cuticle
• D. A growth on the nail bed

Answer: (A)

Paronychia refers to an infection of the skin around the nail, where the nail plate meets the surrounding tissue. It shows up as redness, swelling, tenderness, and sometimes pus at the nail fold, usually from trauma or moisture exposure. This describes an infection around the nail rather than an infection of the nail itself, which would be a fungal condition like onychomycosis. A dryness issue of the cuticle is a dermatitis-like problem, not an infection, and a growth on the nail bed points to a lesion on the nail itself rather than the surrounding skin. So the description that fits is an infection around the nail that is not caused by fungus.