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Section 3. Summaries of Infectious Diseases
Chancroid
Clinical Manifestations
Etiology
Epidemiology
Diagnostic Tests
Treatment
Isolation of the Hospitalized Patient
Control Measures
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: Chancroid is an acute ulcerative disease
that involves the genitalia. An ulcer begins as a tender erythematous
papule, becomes pustular, and erodes over several days, forming
a sharply demarcated, somewhat superficial lesion with a serpiginous
border. The base of the ulcer is friable and may be covered
with a gray or yellow, necrotic, and purulent exudate. Single
or multiple ulcers may be present. Unlike a syphilitic chancre,
which is painless, the chancroidal ulcer often is painful, tender,
and nonindurated. The ulcer may be associated with a painful,
unilateral inguinal adenitis (bubo), which often is suppurative
and fluctuant.
In most males, chancroid manifests as a genital ulcer or inguinal tenderness. Many females are asymptomatic but can, depending on the site of the ulcer, have less obvious symptoms, including dysuria, dyspareunia, vaginal discharge, pain on defecation, or rectal bleeding. Constitutional symptoms are unusual.
ETIOLOGY: Chancroid is caused by
Haemophilus ducreyi, which
is a gram-negative coccobacillus.
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Chancroid is a
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