Chancroid is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease (or STD), the good news is that it is curable. It is caused by a bacteria called Haemophilus Ducreyi (or H. Ducreyi). Chancroid causes ulcers or sores, usually of the genitals. Swollen, painful lymph glands in the groin area are often associated with chancroid. It is especially important to detect and treat chancroid early on as if left untreated, chancroid may make the transmission of HIV easier.

How common is it?
Like every sexually transmitted disease it has become more mobile in recent years. Chancroid has been very common in Africa and parts of Asia, but is now becoming more common in the rest of the world. As this is a highly contagious STD one must pay particular care when being sexually active in countries known to have higher rates of Chancroid.


How is it transmitted?
Knowing how an STD is spread is the first step to prevention. Although it is not always 100% clear what is safe and what is not, it is always true that using protection is always a good idea. Chancroid is generally transmitted in two ways:

· Sexual transmission through skin-to-skin contact with an open sore

· Non-sexual transmission by means of autoinoculation when contact is made with the pus-like fluid from the ulcer

A person is considered to be infectious (able to pass the bacteria to others) when ulcers or sores are present. This means that as long as there are chancroid sores on the body, a person can spread the infection. There has been no reported disease in infants born to women with active chancroid at time of delivery.