What is the Difference Between Chancre and Chancroid

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are caused mainly through sexual contact. Both chancre and chancroid are two different lesions caused by sexually transmitted bacterial infections. They also typically appear on the genitals and mouth. However, their root cause is different.

The key difference between chancre and chancroid is their cause chancre is a symptom caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, while chancroid is a symptom caused by the bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Chancre
3. What is Chancroid
4. Similarities – Chancre and Chancroid
5. Chancre vs Chancroid in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Chancre vs Chancroid
7. FAQ – Chancre and Chancroid

What is Chancre?

Chancre is a symptom of syphilis caused by Treponema pallidum. It is a painless genital ulcer in the primary stage of syphilis. Chancre is normally firm, round, and painless. The risk factors for developing a chancre include being gay, bisexual, or engaging in sexual activity with other men (MSM), having multiple partners, engaging in sexual contact with a known case of syphilis, and substance use.

Figure 01: Chancre

Chancre can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood test, testing the fluid from a sore or testing cerebrospinal fluid, and PCR tests. Furthermore, chancre can be treated through prescribed antibiotics such as penicillin.

What is Chancroid?

Chancroid is a symptom that is present in sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the small, fastidious gram-negative bacterium known as Haemophilus ducreyi. It is usually characterized by painful genital ulcers and painful swollen lump glands in the inguinal area. It has been reported in children and young adults in the South Pacific Islands. It is more commonly diagnosed in heterosexual men than in women.

Figure 02: Chancroid

Chancroid can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood test, serology, and nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Furthermore, the antibiotics of choice for treating chancroid include azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, or erythromycin.

Similarities Between Chancre and Chancroid

Chancre and chancroid are two different lesions that appear in sexually transmitted bacterial infections.
They appear as pustules and later turn to ulcerated forms.
Both are 1 to 2 cm in diameter.
They are caused by sexually transmissible organisms.
Both appear in the genitals of the infected individuals.

Difference Between Chancre and Chancroid

Definition

Chancre is a lesion of the syphilis caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.
Chancroid is a lesion of the sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi.

Who Gets It

Children, young adults, and heterosexual men are more likely to get chancre.
Chancroid is seen in men who have sex with men, have multiple partners, have sexual contact with a person infected with syphilis, and substance or drug use.

Geographical Region Prevalent

Chancre is more prevalent in the South Pacific Islands.
Chancroid is more prevalent in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and Europe.

Characteristics

Chancre is a painless, firm, round lesion.
Chancroids are painful genital ulcers and painful swollen lump glands in the genital area.

Diagnosis

Chancre can be diagnosed by physical examination, blood test, laboratory testing of fluids, and PCR tests.
Chancroid can be diagnosed by physical examination, blood test, serology, and nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT).

Treatment

Chancre can be treated with penicillin.
Chancroid can be treated with azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, or erythromycin.

The following table summarizes the difference between chancre and chancroid.

Summary – Chancre vs Chancroid

Chancre and chancroid are two different lesions that occur by sexually transmitted bacterial infections. Chancre is present in syphilis caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. In contrast, chancroid is present in sexually transmitted infections caused by the bacteria Haemophilus ducreyi. This is the key difference between chancre and chancroid.

FAQ: Chancre and Chancroid

1. What does a chancre look like?

Primary syphilitic chancres are normally small, round firm and painless. They develop at the spot where the pallidum bacteria enter the body. These chancres last 1 to 5 weeks, and if adequate treatment is not administered, these infection progresses to the secondary stage of syphilis.

2. What is the cause of chancre?

Chancre is caused by the Treponema pallidum, which is a result of a sexually transmitted disease known as syphilis. pallidum is a gram-negative microaerophilic spirochaete bacterium.

3. What are the signs and symptoms of chancroid?

Raised and painful bumps on the skin of genitals, ulcers with ragged soft edges that develop from these bumps, reddened and shiny skin in areas of sores, leakage of pus and infected fluid, and spreading the sores into larger areas.

4. How is chancroid diagnosed?

The diagnosis of chancroid is traditionally done through culturing H. ducreyi from material taken from the ulcer base on special culture media under specific laboratory conditions. Other diagnostic tests include serology and nucleic acid amplification (NAAT).

5. What is the treatment for chancroid?

Chancroid is treated using a combination of antibiotics such as azithromycin (1g orally), ceftriaxone (250 mg intramuscularly), ciprofloxacin orally, or erythromycin 500 mg orally.

Reference:

1. “Chancre.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
2. Joseph Adrian L Buensalido, MD. “Chancroid.” E.Medicine.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Primary stage syphilis sore (chancre) on the surface of a tongue-CDC” (Public Domain) via Picryl
2. “A penis with patches of skin disease along the shaft; and a Wellcome V0010270” By Welcome Image Gallery (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

CONTENTS

What is Chancre?

What is Chancroid?

Similarities Between Chancre and Chancroid