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What
is chancroid?
Chancroid
is a sexually
transmitted infection (STI) which
is spread very easily. It is characterized
by ulcers and sores on your private
parts which can be very painful.
This infection can be cured, but
must be treated as soon as you
find out you have it. If you do
not get treatment for chancroid
quickly, your chance of getting
HIV increases.
How do I get chancroid?
You can
get chancroid through sexual activity.
When your skin touches someone
else's skin that has an open sore,
you can get this disease. You can
also get chancroid without sexual
activity, by contacting infected
fluid from others' ulcers.
What
does chancroid do to my body?
If you have chancroid, you will start
to notice changes in your body
between 3-10 days from when you were
exposed to the infection. Some of
the signs of chancroid are:
- One or more
genital ulcers
- Pain around your groin area
- Ulcers that begin as tender bumps and become
open sores filled with fluid
- Ulcers that are soft when you touch
them
Guys/Men
The ulcer
can be very painful.
Girls/Women
The sore
is usually not painful, and might
be harder to notice.
Is there a cure
for chancroid?
Yes!
Luckily, if you treat it early, chancroid
can be cured. When caught early,
this disease can be treated with
antibiotics. If successful signs
of the disease go away and you
will not spread the infection further.
It is important to take all of
the medicine that the doctor gives
you from start to finish and follow
all of his/her instructions.
How do I find out
if I have chancroid?
If you have
had sexual or asexual contact with
open sores or ulcers or are worried
about chancroid for any other reason,
you should visit a physician's
office or clinic to get tested
immediately.
How can I reduce
my risk of getting chancroid?
- Get
Tested
A
simple blood
test can
determine
if you or
any of your
partners
have chancroid.
- Limit the Number of Partners You Have
The
fewer partners
you have
who are
known to
be uninfected,
the less
chance
you will
get chancroid.
- Don't Have Sex
Do not
have sex or take part in any
sexual activity with anyone who
is exhibiting symptoms of chancroid.
Even though the infection can
still be spread in other ways,
this will greatly reduce the
risk.
- Protect Yourself
Use a
condom or any barrier, such as
plastic wrap or dental dam, to
prevent skin to skin contact
with the infected area. This
method will not guarantee prevention,
but it will increase protection
and is a good way to prevent
other STIs.
How do I learn more about
chancroid?
To learn more about chancroid and other STIs
call:
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
800-232-4636
Hotline is open 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.
Information
is avilable in Spanish
as well
For Information for the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing call
1-888-232-6348
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