Which people have the greatest risk for serious complications secondary to herpes zoster infection? Select all that apply.

A. Superficial infections are caused by fungus.

While fungal infections can indeed cause superficial skin infections like tinea (ringworm) or candidiasis, they are not the common factor for the etiology and pathophysiology of folliculitis, furuncles, and carbuncles. These conditions primarily involve bacterial infections of the hair follicles, typically caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

B. Parasites get underneath the skin.

Parasitic infections can cause various skin conditions, but they are not the common factor for folliculitis, furuncles, and carbuncles. These conditions are specifically related to bacterial infections of the hair follicles rather than parasitic infestations.

C. Hair follicles are infected or inflamed.

This is the correct choice and the common factor for folliculitis, furuncles, and carbuncles. All three conditions involve the infection or inflammation of hair follicles, primarily due to Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Folliculitis is the inflammation of one or more hair follicles, furuncles are deeper infections involving the hair follicle and surrounding tissue, and carbuncles are clusters of interconnected furuncles with deeper tissue involvement.

D. There is an allergic response to an allergen.

An allergic response to an allergen does not play a role in the etiology and pathophysiology of folliculitis, furuncles, and carbuncles. These conditions are primarily infectious in nature, involving bacterial colonization and subsequent inflammation of the hair follicles rather than an allergic response.

A. Cluster of oral herpes sores: Oral herpes sores typically heal within a few weeks and do not generally become chronic wounds unless there are complications or underlying immune system issues. They are more acute in nature and tend to resolve without becoming chronic.

B. Abdominal surgical incision: Surgical incisions are designed to heal within a specific timeframe, usually a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on the type of surgery and individual healing factors. While surgical wounds can sometimes have delayed healing or complications, they are not typically categorized as chronic wounds unless they fail to heal or become recurrent over an extended period.

C. Diabetic foot ulcer: Diabetic foot ulcers are highly prone to becoming chronic wounds due to the underlying pathology associated with diabetes, such as neuropathy (nerve damage), peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation), and impaired immune function. These factors can impair the normal healing process, leading to delayed healing, infection, and the potential for the wound to become chronic if not managed appropriately.

D. Posterior scalp wound: Scalp wounds can heal relatively quickly, especially with proper wound care and management. However, certain factors such as the size of the wound, depth, presence of infection, and underlying conditions can influence the likelihood of a scalp wound becoming chronic. In general, scalp wounds are less likely to become chronic compared to wounds in areas with higher risk factors, such as diabetic foot ulcers.