Chancroid

Chancroid is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Haemophilus ducreyi. The disease is characterized by painful genital ulcers, often accompanied by regional lymphadenopathy. The clinical features of chancroid as a sexually transmitted genital ulcer disease have remained consistent over time. The genital ulcers that are typical for chancroid emerge one to two weeks after exposure to H. ducreyi during sexual intercourse. The immune response to H. ducreyi infection involves recruitment of cells from both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Treatment for chancroid is simple and curative with single doses or short courses of generic, well-tolerated antibiotics. In addition to its long-established role as the etiologic agent of chancroid, H. ducreyi has also recently been identified as a major cause of nonsexually transmitted, chronic limb ulcerations in resource-poor tropical regions.