Chancroid is caused by which organism?

Chancroid is caused by which organism?

• A. Haemophilus ducreyi
• B. Treponema pallidum
• C. Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• D. Chlamydia trachomatis

Answer: (A)

Chancroid presents as painful genital ulcers with tender inguinal lymphadenopathy, and the organism that causes it is Haemophilus ducreyi. This small gram-negative rod is a fastidious organism that requires enriched media to grow, which is a clue that helps differentiate chancroid from other common sexually transmitted infections. The other organisms listed are associated with different conditions: Treponema pallidum causes a painless chancre in syphilis; Neisseria gonorrhoeae leads to gonorrhea with purulent discharge; Chlamydia trachomatis causes nongonococcal urethritis and lymphogranuloma venereum. So the painful ulcer pattern points to Haemophilus ducreyi as the etiologic agent.

Chancroid presents as painful genital ulcers with tender inguinal lymphadenopathy, and the organism that causes it is Haemophilus ducreyi. This small gram-negative rod is a fastidious organism that requires enriched media to grow, which is a clue that helps differentiate chancroid from other common sexually transmitted infections. The other organisms listed are associated with different conditions: Treponema pallidum causes a painless chancre in syphilis; Neisseria gonorrhoeae leads to gonorrhea with purulent discharge; Chlamydia trachomatis causes nongonococcal urethritis and lymphogranuloma venereum. So the painful ulcer pattern points to Haemophilus ducreyi as the etiologic agent.