A soft chancre is a sexually transmitted disease suffered by both men and women, with a high risk in cases where a condom is not used. The condition frequently occurs in tropical and subtropical countries such as Africa, Asia, and South America.
This disease occurs much more frequently in countries of extreme poverty, where hygienic conditions are not the most optimal, and even where measures to practice safe sex are not taken into account by people.
If you want to know more information about what is a soft chancre, its symptoms, and its treatment, keep reading this article from FastlyHeal.
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What is a soft chancre?
Soft chancre, also known as chancroid, is an infectious disease caused by Haemophilus ducreyi. This gram-negative bacillus is transmitted through sexual intercourse and affects the genital organs and the groin.
The appearance of painful genital ulcers characterizes this disease called soft chancres. These injuries are more frequent in males and in people who live in places with poor hygienic conditions.
The presence of these lesions can last 1 to 2 months. In addition, it can be suffered multiple times if you have sex with infected people.
How is soft chancre spread
Soft chancre can be transmitted in two ways:
- You are sexually transmitted: through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, as long as you have an open wound.
- It can be transmitted through self-inoculation by contacting the fluid or pus that drains the ulcer during vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse.
The presence of this genital ulcer is indicative that the person is infected and can transmit the bacteria to other people.
Soft chancre: symptoms
The symptoms of a soft chancre appear one day to 2 weeks after contracting the infection. The first thing to appear is a bump in the genital area that turns into an ulcer and becomes very painful. Its size varies from 3 millimeters to 5 cm, with defined edges and purulent content. It also bleeds very easily. A single lesion 1–2 cm in diameter in men is more common.
Multiple lesions may appear on women’s vulva, vagina, or cervix. In this case, the symptoms are:
- Discomfort and burning when urinating.
- Pain during sexual intercourse.
- In some cases, the ulcer does not form but a papule.
In some women, symptoms may go unnoticed:
- The ulcer is usually not painful.
- In some cases, it is not noticeable.
In men, inguinal adenopathy is widespread on one side, called a bubo, and is characterized by:
- Be painful
- Accelerated growth.
- It can cause a fistula to appear through the skin or mucosa.
When the ulcer occurs in the anal region, it causes:
- Discomfort when defecating.
- Bleeding
- Rectal pain
- Swollen, painful glands that may spontaneously drain purulent material.
Soft chancre: treatment
The soft chancre, like all sexually transmitted diseases, requires medical treatment. If you have a suspicion of contagion by this disease or the presence of some of the symptoms, you should go to your trusted doctor. In the case of women, the gynecologist, and men, the urologist these specialists will be in charge of making the diagnosis and prescribing the appropriate treatment.
Initially, the treatment is based on antibiotics, which can be applied orally or intramuscularly. The couple must be treated once the diagnosis is made despite not presenting symptoms. The ideal antibiotic is azithromycin, which should be ingested 1 gram orally in a single dose. Other medications that may be prescribed are:
- Ceftriaxone: 250 mg intramuscularly in a single dose.
- Ciprofloxacin: taken for three days.
The infected person’s partner must receive treatment within ten days before symptoms, even though they are not noticeable. During treatment, in the case of having sexual intercourse, it is essential to use a condom.
Prevention of soft chancre
There are a series of care and measures that can help prevent white chancre:
- People with an active sexual life, both men and women, should use a condom in every relationship and verify it is in perfect condition.
- Avoid having sex with strangers.
- If you or your partner have genital lesions, you should avoid having sex and go to the doctor.
- Maintain periodic controls with your specialist doctor if you have relationships with an unusual partner.
- If you are diagnosed with this disease, you should immediately notify the person you had sexual intercourse with to indicate that they are at risk.
A soft chancre is a sexually transmitted disease, so a specialist doctor must treat it. In addition, preventive measures must be respected to avoid contagion. Both couple members must carry out the treatment, even if the other person has no symptoms.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Soft Chancre: what it is, symptoms and treatment, we recommend that you enter our Male reproductive system category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.