A 19-year-old man presents with itching, burning, tender les…
A 19-year-old man presents with itching, burning, tender lesions on his left index finger that started about 12 hours ago. He says nothing changed other than he has been sleeping less as he prepares for his final exams. An over-the-counter steroid cream reduces the itching, but the area remains unchanged and the itching always returns. He averages 3 drinks on weekends, does not smoke, does not use illicit substances, and does not take any prescription medications or supplements. His medical history reveals an episode of fever, pharyngitis, and gingivostomatitis with vesicular lesions when he was 12 to the extent that it interfered with his ability to eat and drink; history is otherwise unremarkable. Family history is also unremarkable. Vitals are within normal limits. On exam, you observe clusters of raised vesicles on an erythematous base, covering the medial side of his left index fingertip. The area is not fluctuant but is tender to palpation. Considering the most likely etiology, dormant infection of what tissue enables recurrent disease?