Transmitted by- Highly contagious for as long as sores are present.
- Sexual contact
- Skin-to-skin contact with an open sore
- Non-sexual transmission by means of autoinoculation when contact is made with the pus-like fluid from the ulcer
- Symptoms usually occur within 10 days from exposure.
- Sore begins as a tender, elevated bump, or papule that becomes a pus-filled, open sore with eroded or ragged edges.
- The ulcers can be very painful in men.
- Women are often unaware of the ulcers.
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Symptoms- Caused by a bacteria called Haemophilus Ducreyi (or H. Ducreyi).
- Ulcers or sores, usually of the genitals
- Swollen, painful lymph glands in the groin area
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Prevalence | Chancroid is very common in Africa and parts of Asia, and it is becoming more common in the United States. |
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Treatment- Highly contagious but it is curable with antibiotics.
- The chancre is often confused with symptoms of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like syphilis or herpes. Therefore, it is important that a health care provider rule these diseases out.
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w/o Treatment- Left untreated, chancroid may make the transmission of HIV easier.
- Because chancroid is often asymptomatic in women, they are often unaware that they are infected.
- In severe cases, scarring may result.
- Lymph node glands in the groin may become infected and require surgical drainage.
- In uncircumcised males, new scar tissue may result in phimosis (constriction so the foreskin cannot be retracted over the glans or head of the penis). Circumcision may be required to correct this.
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Notes | Chancroid had been well established as a cofactor for HIV transmission. Someone infected with chancroid may be more easily infected with HIV. Also, someone infected with both chancroid and HIV may transmit HIV more easily to a partner who is not infected. Persons with HIV may experience slower healing of chancroid, even with treatment, and may need to take medications for a longer period of time. |
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