In iron deficiency anemia, the fingernails become spoon shaped, this condition is referred to as:

Combined AIIMS - 2020 (Jodhpur, Bhopal, Patna, Raipur)

Medical & Surgical Nursing (E5)

Easy

Appeared in: Combined AIIMS - 2020 (Jodhpur, Bhopal, Patna, Raipur)

Explanation

Koilonychia is the medical term for "spoon nails," where the nails become thin, brittle, and develop a concave or scooped-out appearance.
This change in nail shape is a classic physical sign strongly associated with chronic iron deficiency anemia.
The underlying cause is insufficient iron, which is essential for the formation of healthy, strong nail plates.
As depicted in the image, the nail loses its normal convex curve and becomes indented.

Option B: Paronychia is an inflammation or infection of the skin fold around the nail, characterized by redness, swelling, and pain. It does not describe a change in the shape of the nail plate itself.
Option C: A bleb is a small blister filled with fluid. It is a general dermatological term and is not specific to nail pathology. In ophthalmology, it refers to a structure created during glaucoma surgery.
Option D: A felon is a deep, painful abscess located in the pulp (the fleshy part) of the fingertip. It is an acute infection of the soft tissue, not a chronic change in the nail's structure.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Clinical signs of iron deficiency anemia as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses should perform a thorough physical assessment, including inspection of the hair, skin, and nails, as changes can indicate underlying systemic diseases like nutritional deficiencies.
Identifying koilonychia should prompt the nurse to inquire about dietary habits, fatigue, and other symptoms of anemia, and to anticipate laboratory tests for hemoglobin, hematocrit, and iron levels.
What if? If the patient's nails were thickened, yellow, and slow-growing, the condition would be Yellow Nail Syndrome, which is associated with lymphatic issues and respiratory diseases, not iron deficiency.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key clinical finding described in the question: "spoon shaped" fingernails.
Next, note the associated condition: "iron deficiency anemia."
The question asks for the medical term for this specific sign. This is a factual recall question.
Examine the provided image, which visually confirms the description of "spoon shaped" nails.
Evaluate each option based on your medical terminology knowledge:
Koilonychia: This term directly translates to spoon nails.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Clinical signs of iron deficiency anemia
Stem keywords: iron deficiency anemia, fingernails, spoon shaped
Lead-in keywords: referred to as
Clinical cues: The visual cue of spoon-shaped nails is a classic sign pointing to a specific nutritional deficiency.

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