What are the early symptoms of chancroid?

If you want to better reduce the impact and harm caused by chancroid, you must pay attention to the symptoms of chancroid. The early symptoms include infection of the foreskin, glans or labia, with the appearance of inflammatory papules, pustules or some foul-smelling and yellow-gray exudation.

1. The incubation period is 3 to 14 days , with an average of 4 to 7 days. The most common sites for males are the coronal sulcus, foreskin, frenulum, glans penis, body of penis, perineum and perianal area, and for females are the labia minora, labia majora, frenulum of labia, vestibule, clitoris, cervix, perineum and perianal area. There are also reports of ulcers on the breasts, inner thighs, fingers and oral cavity.

2. After contact with the pathogen , a small inflammatory papule or abscess appears at the infected site, which quickly turns into an abscess. After 3 to 5 days, the damage continues to invade the affected area to form a deep ulcer with severe pain. The ulcer is round or oval in shape, soft in texture, easy to bleed, with rough and irregular edges. The surface is covered with a foul-smelling yellow-gray exudate.

3. Most patients will develop inguinal purulent lymphadenitis after the onset of ulcers , which is painful, and may further develop pus and redness of the surface skin. The enlarged lymph nodes often have a sense of fluctuation, and may naturally rupture and purulent, forming ulcers and sinuses. Complications include balanitis, incarcerated prepuce, urethral fistula, urethral stenosis, penile stem lymphangitis, scrotal or labial elephantiasis, and other secondary infections of ulcers.