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Sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterium called Haemophilus ducreyi.
Infection is more likely if there are skin lesions or abrasions. It is more common in uncircumcised men and/or those with poor personal hygiene.
It usually presents with one or more genital ulcers, which may be accompanied by a painful inguinal lump. Occasionally this lump may discharge pus.
The diagnosis is made clinically by interview and genital examination.
Antibiotic therapy should be started as early as possible to control symptoms, for example with single-dose courses of azitromicin or ceftriaxone. If there is a large collection of pus, minor surgery may be required to drain it.
- Charles B Hicks, MD. Chancroid. Uptodate, Jun 30, 2016.
- Lewis DA. Epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of Haemophilus ducreyi - a disappearing pathogen? Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2014; 12:687.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2014 sexually transmitted disease surveillance. http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats14/tables/44.htm (Accessed on May 12, 2016).
- Lewis DA. Diagnostic tests for chancroid. Sex Transm Infect 2000; 76:137.
- Timothy F. Murphy.Infecciones por Haemophilus y Moraxella.Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna, 19e.Capítulo 182.
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
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