Chancroid

C (soft chancre, or ulcus molle) was differentiated from the hard chancre of primary syphilis by Brasseau in 1852. Autoinoculation in the forearm with exudate from a chancroid lesion produced a new lesion, whereas autoinocutation from a syphilitic ulcer did not. In 1889, Ducrey described the etiologic agent, FiemophJius ducreyi. Subsequent studies with chancroid have been frustrated by the difficulties of culturingH. ducreyi. Most physicians have made the diagnosis of chancroid by excluding syphilis and herpes simplex and following the response to treatment with sulfonamides. In the absence of treatments chancroid ulcers persist for 1-3 months. With effective therapy, the ulcer and accompanying buboes usually resolve within 7-14 days.