Chancroid is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by
Haemophilus ducreyi, characterized by painful genital ulcers and tender suppurative inguinal adenopathy
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of chancroid involves the invasion of the genital mucosa by
Haemophilus ducreyi, leading to the formation of painful ulcers. The bacteria can also cause regional lymphadenopathy, which may suppurate and form buboes
Prognosis
The prognosis of chancroid is generally good with appropriate antibiotic treatment. Symptoms typically resolve within 1-2 weeks of initiating therapy
. However, chancroid is a cofactor for HIV transmission, which may complicate the clinical course
Risk factors
Risk factors for chancroid include unprotected sexual intercourse and having multiple sexual partners. The disease is endemic in certain regions, such as Africa, where it can cause up to 10% of genital ulcers
Clinical course
The clinical course of chancroid begins with the appearance of one or more painful genital ulcers. Regional lymphadenopathy may also occur, which can suppurate and form buboes. The disease can be definitively diagnosed by identifying
Haemophilus ducreyi on special culture media
. Treatment involves the use of antibiotics such as azithromycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, or erythromycin
. Incision and drainage of fluctuant buboes may be necessary
. Patients should be reassessed 3-7 days after treatment initiation to evaluate the response to therapy
In conclusion, chancroid is a sexually transmitted infection caused by
Haemophilus ducreyi, characterized by painful genital ulcers and regional lymphadenopathy. The prognosis is generally good with appropriate antibiotic treatment, although the disease is a cofactor for HIV transmission. Risk factors include unprotected sexual intercourse and having multiple sexual partners. The clinical course involves the appearance of painful genital ulcers, which can be definitively diagnosed by identifying
Haemophilus ducreyi on special culture media. Treatment involves the use of antibiotics and may require incision and drainage of fluctuant buboes.