What causes chancroid?

What causes chancroid?

Chancroid is a very contagious bacterial disease spread by sexual contact. The bacterium that causes chancroid is called Haemophilus ducreyi (H. ducreyi).

Scientists think that H. ducreyi enters your body through tiny tears in the skin during sexual activity, as it usually doesn’t infect skin that doesn’t have any abrasions.

However, the germ has caused skin ulcers in children and young adults in places like Africa and the South Pacific. The infected fluid (pus) from the ulcer can be transferred to someone without sexual contact.