CHANCROID

Chancroid:
     Chancroid is a bacterial infection spread solely through of sexual contact. It is also known as soft chancre.

CAUSES:
      Chancroid is caused by the fastidious Gram-negative streptobacillus called Haemophilus ducreyi.
     Chancroid is a risk factor for contracting HIV, due to their ecological association or shared risk of exposure, and biologically facilitated transmission of one infection by the other.

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: 

• Unprotected sexual contact 
• Engaging with high-risk sexual behaviors

SYMPTOMS:
     Within 1 day - 2 weeks after getting chancroid, a person will get a small bump in the genitals. The bump becomes an ulcer within a day of its appearance. The ulcer characteristically:

• Ranges in size from 1/8 inch to 2 inches across
• Is painful
• Is soft
• Has sharply defined borders
• Has a base that is covered with a grey or yellowish-grey material
• Has a base that bleeds easily if it is banged or scraped
• painful lymphadenopathy occurs in 30 to 60% of patients.
• dysuria (pain with urination) and dyspareunia(pain with intercourse) in females

     About half of infected men have only a single ulcer. Women frequently have four or more ulcers, with fewer symptoms.
     The initial ulcer may be mistaken as a "hard" chancre, the typical sore of primary syphilis, as opposed to the "soft chancre" of chancroid.
     About half of the people who are infected with a chancroid will develop enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, the nodes located in the fold between the leg and the lower abdomen.
     In half of people who have swelling of the inguinal lymph nodes, the nodes will break through the skin and cause draining abscesses. The swollen lymph nodes and abscesses are often called buboes.

     Locations: 
    
      MALES: 

• Foreskin
• Groove behind the head of the penis
• Shaft of the penis
• Head of the penis
• Opening of the penis
• Scrotum

     FEMALES:

• Outer vagina lips (Labia majora). "kissing ulcers" may develop. These are ulcers that occur on opposite surface of the labia. 
• Inner vagina lips (Labia minora)
• Fourchette
• Vestibule
• Clitoris
• Perineal area (area between genital and anus)
• Inner thighs

PREVENTION:
    
     Chancroid is spread by sexual contact with an infected person. Avoiding all forms of sexual activity is the only absolute way to prevent from being infected.
     However, safe sex practices may reduce your risk. The proper use of latex condoms, either the male or female type, greatly decreases the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. You need to wear the condom from the beginning to the end of each sexual activity.
      
Treatment:

     Chancroid may be treated with the right medicines prescribed by the doctors.
     Large lymph node swellings need to be drained, either with a needle or local surgery.
     Treatment failure is possible with HIV co-infection and extended therapy is sometimes required.
     
IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Do not self-medicate on any kind of Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Have yourself tested if you have symptoms of Chancroid
• If you had sexual contact with a person known to have STIs.
• If you are engaging in high-risk sexual practices.

PROGNOSIS:

     Prognosis is excellent with proper treatment. Treating sexual contacts of affected individual helps break cycle of infection.









Sources:
Fishbein's Illustarted Medical and Health Encyclopedia
www.wikipedia.org
www.epigee.org