The key difference between syphilis and chancroid is that syphilis is a bacterial skin infection caused by Treponema pallidum, while chancroid is a bacterial skin infection caused by Haemophilus ducreyi.
Syphilis and chancroid are two bacterial skin infections. They are spread through sexual contact. Both these conditions can produce ulcers in the body. However, the ulcers in syphilis generally are painless, while the ulcers in the chancroid are very painful. Moreover, both these conditions can be treated through medications like antibiotics.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Syphilis
3. What is Chancroid
4. Similarities – Syphilis and Chancroid
5. Syphilis vs Chancroid in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Syphilis vs Chancroid
What is Syphilis?
Syphilis is a bacterial skin infection caused by Treponema pallidum. This bacterium spreads through direct contact with a syphilis sore on someone else’s body, which usually happens during sexual activity. This bacterium can also get into the body through cuts on the skin or through mucous membranes. The symptoms of this condition include small painless ulcers (chancres) on the genitals, anus, rectum, or mouth, “copper penny” rashes on the palm of hands and soles of feet, wart-like lesions in the groin, white patches on the inside of the mouth, swollen lymph glands, hair loss, fever, weight loss, and damage to the brain, nerves, eyes, heart’s blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. The complications of this condition include small bumps or tumors, neurological problems, cardiovascular problems, HIV infection, miscarriage, stillbirths, and newborn deaths.
Figure 01: Syphilis
Moreover, syphilis can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood tests, and cerebrospinal fluids. Furthermore, treatment options for syphilis may include antibiotics. At all stages, penicillin is the antibiotic for syphilis management. If people are allergic to penicillin, doctors may suggest another antibiotic or recommend penicillin desensitization.
What is Chancroid?
Chancroid is a bacterial skin infection caused by Haemophilus ducreyi. In chancroid, people have a soft chancre or ulcers that are often painful and red. These ulcers do not have hard edges and may leak pus. The signs and symptoms of chancroid may include raised and painful bumps on the skin of the genitals, ulcers with soft edges that develop from bumps, reddened and shiny skin on the sores, leakage of pus or infectious fluid, and the spread of these sores into larger areas. Scientists believe Haemophilus ducreyi enters the body through tiny tears in the skin during sexual activity. The complications involved in this condition may include inguinal buboes, swollen, painful lymph glands, and HIV transmission.
Figure 02: Haemophilus influenzae
Moreover, chancroid can be diagnosed through physical examination, specialized media to find Haemophilus ducreyi, and PCR testing. Furthermore, treatment options for chancroid may include antibiotics such as azithromycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and erythromycin.
What are the Similarities Between Syphilis and Chancroid?
- Syphilis and chancroid are two bacterial skin infections.
- Both are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
- These diseases cause ulcers on the genitals.
- Both diseases are diagnosed through physical examination.
- They are mainly treated with antibiotics.
What is the Difference Between Syphilis and Chancroid?
Syphilis is a bacterial skin infection that is caused by Treponema pallidum, while chancroid is a bacterial skin infection that is caused by Haemophilus ducreyi. Thus, this is the key difference between syphilis and chancroid. Furthermore, complications in syphilis include small bumps or tumors, neurological problems, cardiovascular problems, HIV infection, miscarriage, stillbirth, and newborn deaths. On the other hand, the complications in chancroid include inguinal buboes, swollen, painful lymph glands, and HIV transmission.
The below infographic presents the differences between syphilis and chancroid in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Syphilis vs Chancroid
Syphilis and chancroid are two bacterial skin infections that are sexually transmitted. Both these diseases cause red ulcers on the genitals. However, syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum, while chancroid is caused by Haemophilus ducreyi. So, this is the key difference between syphilis and chancroid.
Reference:
1. Macon, Brindles Lee. “What Is Chancroid?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 17 Sept. 2018.
2. “Syphilis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 25 Sept. 2021.
Image Courtesy:
1. “A young girl suffering from congenital Syphilis to the face Wellcome L0038265” By Welcome Image Gallery (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Haemophilus influenza” By Stefan Walkowski – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia