Chancroid is a bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Haemophilus ducreyi.
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Haemophilus ducrey is a fastidious, Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic coccobacilli which dies rapidly outside the human body. Haemophilus ducrey causes sores on the genitals and Disease rate is more common in men than in women. It is characterized by painful necrotizing genital ulcers that may be accompanied by inguinal lymphadenopathy. It is a highly contagious but curable disease.
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SYMPTOMS
Haemophilus ducreyi has an incubation period of 1 day to 2 weeks after which the infected person gets a small bump on the genitals. The bump enlarges to becomes an ulcer within a day after it first appears.
Symptoms of chancroid includes
- Open sores, usually on the penis, rectum, and vulva — especially around the opening to the vagina.
- Swollen glands in the groin.
- Pain in urination and during sexual intercourse.
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It is characterised by ulcer on the genital which Ranges in size from 1/8 inch to 2 inches (3 millimeters to 5 centimeters) in diameter accompanied with pain. The ulcer has sharply defined borders and base that is covered with a gray or yellowish-gray material, the base bleeds easily if it is banged or scraped.
Chancroid often affect the
- Foreskin
- Groove behind the head of the penis
- Shaft of the penis
- Head of the penis
- Opening of the penis
- Scrotum in men, while in women, the most common location for ulcers is the outer lips of the vagina (labia majora), the inner vagina lips (labia minora), the area between the genitals and the anus (perineal area), and the inner thighs.
Like genital herpes and syphilis, chancroid is a risk factor in the transmission and acquisition of HIV infection.
CAUSE OF CHANCROID
H. ducreyi is transmitted sexually by direct contact with purulent lesions and by autoinoculation to nonsexual sites, such as the eye and skin. The organism has an incubation period of 1 day to 2 weeks, with a median time of 5-7 days.
DIAGNOSIS OF CHANCROID
Chancroid can be diagnosed by looking at the ulcer(s), checking for swollen lymph nodes and testing (ruling out) for other sexually-transmitted diseases. There is no blood test for chancroid. Chancroid symptoms can be confused with other infections, such as herpes and syphilis. Definitive diagnosis of chancroid requires the identification of H. ducreyi on special culture media that is not widely available from commercial sources.
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TREATMENTS
Chancroid is treated with antibiotics including ceftriaxone, and azithromycin. Large lymph node swellings need to be drained, either with a needle or local surgery. Both partners should be treated at the same time.
Complications may arise which includes urethral fistulas and scars on the foreskin of the penis in uncircumcised males, people with chancroid should also be checked for other sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis, HIV, and genital herpes. Chancroid takes long to heal heal up in immunocompromised person mostly patients with HIV.
PREVENTION
Avoiding all forms of sexual activity is the only absolute way to prevent a sexually transmitted disease. Abstaining from vaginal and anal intercourse, and oral sex.
Use of female or latex condoms every time.
Also for oral sex, use a condom, Glyde dam, or dental dam.
Avoid touching the chancroid sores. If you do touch one, carefully wash hands to reduce the risk that you spread the infection to another part of your body.
References
Mookerjee AL, Newell GC. Chancroid. In: Lebwohl MG, Heymann WR, Berth-Jones J, Coulson I, eds. Treatment of Skin Disease: Comprehensive Therapeutic Strategies. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 40.
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/stds-hiv-safer-sex/chancroid
CDC STD Treatment Guidelines 2010 – Chancroid, http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2010/genital-ulcers.htm#chancroid