Nail disorders: practice question

A Dermatology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dermatology · Nail disorders

Sample item

Which nail feature suggests iron deficiency or chronic trauma rather than fungal infection?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Koilonychia with spoon-shaped nails

Koilonychia is spooning of the nail plate and may be associated with iron deficiency or repeated local trauma, unlike onychomycosis.

Option by option

  • A. Koilonychia with spoon-shaped nails (correct)

    Correct: spoon-shaped nails are called koilonychia.

  • B. Painful periungual vesicles

    Periungual vesicles suggest herpetic whitlow.

  • C. Pitting across multiple nails

    Nail pitting can occur in psoriasis.

  • D. Thick subungual debris with yellow discoloration

    Yellow thick subungual debris suggests onychomycosis.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is A, Koilonychia with spoon-shaped nails. Koilonychia is spooning of the nail plate and may be associated with iron deficiency or repeated local trauma, unlike onychomycosis.

Why is "Painful periungual vesicles" not the answer?

Periungual vesicles suggest herpetic whitlow.

Why is "Pitting across multiple nails" not the answer?

Nail pitting can occur in psoriasis.

Why is "Thick subungual debris with yellow discoloration" not the answer?

Yellow thick subungual debris suggests onychomycosis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nail disorders in Dermatology. The correct option holds because: Correct: spoon-shaped nails are called koilonychia.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Nail disorders?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.