What is Chancroid?

Chancroid is a curable STD successfully treated with antibiotics. It is a bacterial infection caused by Haemophilus Ducreyi. It is highly contagious and widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, although periodic outbreaks have occurred in the United States. Chancroid is contracted through skin to skin contact with open lesions. It can also be spread to different parts of one’s own body by autoinoculation or from sex toys which have come in contact with open lesions. It is one of the genital ulcer diseases that can increase the risk of HIV transmission.

Symptoms

Chancroid causes ulcers usually on the genitals, which may be difficult to distinguish from syphilis, genital herpes, or lymphogranuloma venereum. The sores may be accompanied by swollen, tender lymph nodes in the groin area. Symptoms usually occur within 10 days. Surgical drainage of the bubo, or the inflammation of the lymph node with overlying red skin, may be necessary to relieve pain. Women sometimes are not aware they are infected since the sores may be internal, but they may have vaginal discharge, rectal bleeding, painful intercourse, or painful urination or defecation.

Treatment

Antibiotics used to treat Chancroid are azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, erythromycin. The duration of treatment is related to the size of the sores. The larger the sore, the longer the treatment. Large chancres may require two weeks or longer.

Testing

A culture from the discharge from the sores is used to diagnose Chancroid. Many other diseases have similar symptoms, so it is important for a health care provider to exclude the other possibilities.

All sex partners should be tested, so they can receive treatment. They can infect other sexual partners, and even reinfect you after you have been treated.