Wound Care Certified Certification (WCC) Practice Exam

What is the likely etiology of small painful blisters forming along a dermatome?

1. Herpes simplex

2. Herpes zoster

3. Contact dermatitis

4. Impetigo

The correct answer is: Herpes zoster

The formation of small, painful blisters along a dermatome is characteristic of herpes zoster, also known as shingles. This condition arises from the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which remains dormant in the body's nerve tissues after a person has had chickenpox. When the virus reactivates, it travels along the nerve fibers, particularly affecting a specific dermatome, which is an area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve root. The blisters that occur are typically vesicular, clustered, and often accompanied by significant pain or a burning sensation due to nerve involvement. In contrast, herpes simplex generally causes lesions that are more localized and not typically confined to a dermatome, while contact dermatitis is usually associated with a more diffuse rash rather than the blister formation characteristic of herpes zoster. Impetigo, on the other hand, is a bacterial skin infection that leads to crusted lesions and is not associated with the dermatomal pattern seen in herpes zoster. Thus, the etiology of small painful blisters along a specific dermatome is most consistent with herpes zoster due to the involvement of the reactivated varicella-zoster virus along the nerve pathways.