Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON) Practice Test

Which nail condition is often caused by a fungal infection characterized by dry skin, scaling, and itching?

1. Onychia

2. Onychomycosis

3. Tinea pedis

4. Xerosis

The correct answer is: Tinea pedis

The condition characterized by dry skin, scaling, and itching due to a fungal infection is more accurately identified as athlete's foot, or tinea pedis. This condition primarily affects the feet and is associated with intense itching and scaling between the toes, often leading to secondary infections affecting the nails. However, the focus of the question is on a nail condition associated with fungal infection. The correct term for a fungal infection specifically affecting the nails, causing thickening, discoloration, and sometimes scaling around the nail, is onychomycosis. Understanding this distinction is crucial. Onychomycosis is directly related to nail conditions and is a prevalent result of fungal infections, while tinea pedis primarily involves the skin of the feet and can indirectly lead to nail issues when secondary infections occur. The other conditions mentioned, such as onychia (an inflammation of the nail matrix) and xerosis (dry, flaky skin), are not directly linked to the fungal infection setting described in the question.