A patient recovering from a severe febrile illness notices transverse grooves across all fingernails at the same distance from the proximal nail fold. The grooves will most likely:

• A Widen progressively as the nail grows
• B Move distally with nail growth and eventually grow out ✓
• C Persist permanently at the same site
• D Disappear by remodelling within the plate without moving

Explanation

Beau lines are transverse depressions caused by temporary arrest of the nail matrix, typically after severe systemic illness, high fever, chemotherapy or trauma. Because the matrix resumes producing plate once the insult passes, the groove is carried distally at the rate of nail growth, roughly 0.1 mm per day for fingernails, and is shed in about 4 to 6 months. The width of the groove reflects the duration of matrix arrest.

Reference: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology, 9th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.