Chancroid--a review.

Chancroid is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Haemophilus ducreyi. The infection is reported to be more common in the tropics. Isolation of H. ducreyi is difficult even in the best of hands. The diagnosis of chancroid is often clinical. Most chancroidal ulcers are polymicrobial in nature and this has resulted in conflicting reports of the efficacy of antibiotics used in the treatment of chancroid. In-vitro testing of clinical isolates indicated a wide variation in the prevalence of resistance to various antibiotics in different geographic areas. This paper reviews the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of chancroid.