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Chancroid in Dallas: new lessons from an old disease
J R Farris1, D Hutcheson, G Cartwright
1Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic, Dallas County Health Department, TX 75235.
Texas Medicine
|May 1, 1991
Summary
An outbreak of painful genital ulcers in Dallas was identified as chancroid. Early diagnosis and erythromycin treatment were effective in managing this sexually transmitted infection.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
- Microbiology
Background:
- Unusual presentations of painful genital ulcers were observed in Dallas men in 1986.
- Initial serologic findings were nonreactive, complicating early diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the causative agent of the observed genital ulcers.
- To confirm the presence of chancroid in Dallas and assess its prevalence.
Main Methods:
- Clinical observation of patient presentations.
- Retrospective chart review for similar cases.
- Microbiological culturing for Haemophilus ducreyi.
- Confirmation of cultures by the Centers for Disease Control.
Main Results:
- Empiric therapy with erythromycin showed efficacy.
- Positive cultures for Haemophilus ducreyi confirmed chancroid.
- A total of 383 chancroid cases were diagnosed by year's end.
Conclusions:
- Chancroid was definitively diagnosed in Dallas following an unusual cluster of cases.
- Prompt diagnosis and empiric antibiotic treatment are crucial for managing chancroid outbreaks.