STIs HIV Questions

Chancroid is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacteria Haemophilus ducreyi. Chancroid is transmitted in two ways: (1)sexual transmission through skin-to-skin contact with open sore(s), (2)non-sexual transmission when pus-like fluid from the ulcer is moved to other parts of the body or to another person. Symptoms usually occur within four days to ten days from exposure. They rarely develop earlier than three days or later than ten days. The ulcer begins as a tender, elevated bump, or papule, that becomes a pus-filled, open sore with eroded or ragged edges. They can be very painful in men but women are often unaware of them. Because chancroid is often asymptomatic in women, they may be unaware of the lesion(s). It can be treated by medication.