Chancroid is caused by which organism?

Chancroid is caused by which organism?

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

Answer: (C)

Chancroid is caused by Haemophilus ducreyi, a small, fastidious gram-negative coccobacillus that grows best on enriched chocolate agar with special supplements. Clinically, chancroid presents as painful genital ulcers with tender inguinal lymphadenopathy, a combination that helps distinguish it from infections like syphilis, which typically causes a painless chancre, and from gonorrhea or Haemophilus influenzae infections that present with different symptoms. Haemophilus ducreyi is the classic organism associated with chancroid.

Chancroid is caused by Haemophilus ducreyi, a small, fastidious gram-negative coccobacillus that grows best on enriched chocolate agar with special supplements. Clinically, chancroid presents as painful genital ulcers with tender inguinal lymphadenopathy, a combination that helps distinguish it from infections like syphilis, which typically causes a painless chancre, and from gonorrhea or Haemophilus influenzae infections that present with different symptoms. Haemophilus ducreyi is the classic organism associated with chancroid.