What does chancroid mean?
Chancroid is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi. It produces one or more painful open sores on the genitals, typically accompanied by tender swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin — a feature doctors call a bubo. The condition is sometimes called 'soft chancre' to distinguish it from the firm, painless sore of syphilis, with which it can be confused at first glance. Chancroid is uncommon in much of the developed world but remains a significant public health problem in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Because its open sores make it easier for other infections, including HIV, to spread, health authorities treat outbreaks seriously. It responds well to common antibiotics when diagnosed promptly.
nounA sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by Haemophilus ducreyi, characterized by painful genital ulcers and swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin.
- A sexually transmitted infection caused by Haemophilus ducreyi, marked by painful genital ulcers.
"The clinic saw a cluster of chancroid cases following an outbreak in the region."
"Public health officials tracked the rise in chancroid cases among high-risk populations."
"Because chancroid increases the risk of HIV transmission, prompt antibiotic treatment is essential."
Both singular and plural are used; the plural typically refers to multiple individual lesions or cases rather than distinct varieties of the disease.
"Several chancroids were observed during the clinical examination."
Its nickname says it all: 'soft chancre' — the painful counterpart to syphilis's painless sore.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chancroid
The word chancroid combines 'chancre' — borrowed from French, ultimately from Latin cancer, meaning crab or ulcerating sore — with the suffix '-oid', from Greek eidos meaning form or likeness. It was coined in the nineteenth century by physicians seeking a name for a genital ulcer that resembled a syphilitic chancre but was a distinct disease. The shared Latin root cancer also underlies words such as 'cancer' itself and 'chancery', which entered English through Old French.
How chancroid is actually used
A technical medical term used in clinical and public health contexts; rarely encountered in everyday conversation.
Easily confused with chancroid
A chancre is the painless ulcer of syphilis, whereas chancroid is a separate disease producing painful ulcers.