Skip to main content

Chancroid

Faraz Yousefian, DO, Daniel Fischer, DO, MA and Graham Litchman, DO, MS Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • A sexually transmitted infection characterized by painful genital ulcerations and inguinal lymphadenopathy

  • Caused by Haemophilus ducreyi, a fastidious gram-negative coccobacillus

  • Third...

DIAGNOSIS

Most patients are symptomatic and present early. 

HISTORY

  • Common symptoms: painful genital papules or ulcerations, dysuria, inguinal lymph node swelling, vaginal discharge, and pain during int...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Outpatient treatment

  • Saline or Burow solution to soak ulcers

  • Aspiration of buboes if >5 cm; approach through adjacent skin. Consider incision and drainage for larger lesions...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Avoid sexual activity until ulcers are resolved.

  • Clinical improvement usually occurs within 48 hours.

  • Reexamine patients 3 to 7 days after initiat...

REFERENCES

1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted disease surveillance 2020: chancroid. https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2020/tables/1.htm. Accessed October 27, 2022.
2
Gonz...

ADDITIONAL READING

SEE ALSO

  • Brothwell JA, Griesenauer B, Chen L, et al. Interactions of the skin pathogen Haemophilus ducreyi with the human host. Front Immunol. 2021;11:6154...

CODES

ICD10

  • A57 Chancroid

SNOMED

  • 402954007 Penile chancroid

  • 402955008 Vulval chancroid

  • 240586001 Chancroid - extragenital ulcer

  • 240585002 Chancroid - anogenital ulcer

  • 266143009 Chancroid

  • 240587005 Chancroid -...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Chancroid is characterized by genital papules that progress to pustules and then open painful ulcers. Chancroid is rare in the United States.

  • Azithromycin is the treatment of choice.

  • Tre...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

Sign Up for a 10-Day Free Trial

Sign up for a 10-day FREE Trial now and receive full access to all content.

 
×