Reporting Obligations
Individuals with suspect or confirmed cases must be reported to the Thunder Bay District Health Unit by the next working day by fax, phone or mail.
- Fax: (807) 625-4866
- Phone: 625-5976 or toll-free at 1-888-294-6630, ext. 5976
- Mail: 999 Balmoral Street, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6E7
Epidemiology
Aetiologic Agent:
Chancroid is caused by Haemophilus ducreyi or chancroid. H. ducreyi is a fastidious gram-negative rod.
Clinical Presentation:
Chancroid is an acute, sexually transmitted bacterial infection usually localized in the genital area and characterized clinically by a single or multiple painful, necrotic ulcers that bleed on contact. Primary lesions are frequently accompanied by painful, swollen and suppurating regional lymph nodes. In women, asymptomatic carriage is rare, but minimally symptomatic or painless lesions may occur on the vaginal wall or cervix. Chancroid can mimic other genital ulcer diseases, particularly syphilis; however, chancroid lesions are usually painful, and classic primary syphilis chancres are generally painless.
Modes of Transmission:
Direct sexual contact with discharge from open lesions and pus from buboes. Autoinoculation to non-genital sites may occur in infected people. It is transmitted only by individuals with ulcerations. Sexual abuse must be considered when chancroid is found in children.
Incubation Period:
3 - 5 days up to 14 days.
Period of Communicability:
Chancroid is communicable until the original ulcer(s) and/or discharging regional lymph node are healed. This may take up to several weeks or months without antibiotic treatment. With antibiotic treatment, elimination of H. ducreyi, and lesions heal within 1 -2 weeks.
Risk Factors/Susceptibility
There have been no reported cases of Chancroid in Ontario since 1997. Susceptibility is general; there is no evidence of natural resistance.
- High risk sexual contact with sex trade workers
- Males who are uncircumcised
- Infection with H. ducreyi is associated with increased risk of HIV infection
- The risk of HIV infection increases by 10 -50 fold following sexual exposure to an individual with concomitant H. ducreyi and HIV infection.
Diagnosis & Laboratory Testing
A confirmed case is lab confirmation of Haemophilus ducreyi in a specimen taken from an appropriate anatomical site (e.g. cervix, genital area, vaginal wall), with clinically compatible signs and symptoms. It is important to rule out T. pallidum (syphilis) and herpes simplex virus (HSV), which may co-exist in 10% of patients.
Testing Information & Requisition
Treatment & Case Management
Chancroid is not known to be endemic in Canada and its appearance should be responded to immediately. Treatment and follow up is under the direction of the attending physician. For treatment of cases and contacts see the Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections.
All patients diagnosed with chancroid should undergo testing to rule out co-infection with other STI’s, including HIV (at presentation and 3 months later), Lymphogranuloma venereum, HSV, Syphilis, Donovanosis (granuloma inguinale) and gonorrhea.
Patient Information
Public Health Ontario Information
References
1. Heymann, D.L. Control of Communicable Disease Manual (20th Ed.). Washington, American Public Health Association, 2015.
2. Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections, evergreen edition.
3. Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Infectious Diseases Protocol - Appendix 1 (2022) Chancroid.