Chancre

Chancre on the underside of the penis

A chancre ( /ˈʃæŋkər/ shang-kər)^[1] is a painless ulceration (sore) formed during the primary stage of syphilis. This infectious lesion forms approximately 21 days after the initial exposure to Treponema pallidum, the gram-negative spirochaete bacterium yielding syphilis. Chancres transmit the sexually transmissible disease of syphilis through direct physical contact. These ulcers usually form on or around the anus, mouth, penis, and vagina. Chancres may diminish between three to six weeks without the application of medication.

In addition, chancres are associated with the African trypanosomiasis sleeping sickness, surrounding the area of the tsetse fly bite.

Etymology

The word "chancre" (French pronunciation: [ʃɑ̃kʁ]) means "little ulcer" in Old French. Related to the English "canker", they both come from the Latin cancer, meaning crab,^[2] which is a translation from the Greek word "καρκἰνος (karkínos)", also meaning crab.^[3]

Similarities with chancroid

Similarities between the conditions chancre and chancroid:

• Both originate as pustules at the site of inoculation, and progress to ulcerated lesions
• Both lesions are typically 1–2 cm in diameter
• Both lesions are caused by sexually transmissible organisms
• Both lesions typically appear on the genitals of infected individuals

Differences from chancroid

Differences between the conditions chancre and chancroid:

• Chancre is a lesion typical of infection with the bacterium that causes syphilis, Treponema pallidum
• Chancroid is a lesion typical of infection with the bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi
• Chancres are typically painless, whereas chancroid are typically painful
• Chancres are typically non-exudative, whereas chancroid typically have a grey or yellow purulent exudate
• Chancres have a hard (indurated) edge, whereas chancroid have a soft edge
• Chancres heal spontaneously within three to six weeks, even in the absence of treatment
• Chancres can occur in the pharynx as well as on the genitals

See also

• Primary cutaneous histoplasmosis

References

1. ^ chancres thefreedictionary
2. ^ medterms.com
3. ^ Ayto, John (1990). Dictionary of Word Origins. New York: Arcade Publishing, Inc. p. 94. ISBN 1-55970-214-1. 

This medical sign article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Bacterium-related cutaneous conditions Symptoms Medical sign stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную? Paresis PAC Look at other dictionaries: chancre — [ ʃɑ̃kr ] n. m. • XIIIe; lat. cancer « ulcère » → cancer 1 ♦ Méd. Vx Petit ulcère ayant tendance à ronger les parties environnantes. ⇒ cancer. Mod. Érosion ou ulcération de la peau ou d une muqueuse, au premier stade de certaines maladies… …   Encyclopédie Universelle chancre — CHANCRE. s. m. Espèce d ulcère malin, qui ronge la partie du corps sur laquelle il s est formé. Chancre simple, scorbutique, vénérien. Il a le visage rongé par un chancre. f♛/b] On dit figurément et populairement, qu Un homme mange comme un… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798 Chancre — Chan cre, n. [F. chancere. See {Cancer}.] (Med.) A venereal sore or ulcer; specifically, the initial lesion of true syphilis, whether forming a distinct ulcer or not; called also {hard chancre}, {indurated chancre}, and {Hunterian chancre}. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English Chancre — (fr., spr. Schangker), 1) Krebs; 2) venerisches Geschwür, s.u. Syphilis. Daher Chanerös, mit dem Chancre behaftet …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon chancre — (n.) venereal ulcer, c.1600, from Fr. chancre (15c.), lit. cancer, from L. cancer (see CANCER (Cf. cancer)) …   Etymology dictionary chancre — Chancre, Cancer, cancri, Gangraena, gangraenae. Une espece de chancre és parties superieures, Carcinoma, carcinomatis …   Thresor de la langue françoyse Chancre — (frz., spr. schangkr), Krebs; syphilitisches Geschwür, Schanker (s.d.); schankrös, damit behaftet …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon Chancre — (frz. Schangkr), Krebs, venerisches Geschwür …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon chancre — ► NOUN Medicine ▪ a painless ulcer, particularly one developing on the genitals in venereal disease. ORIGIN Latin cancer creeping ulcer …   English terms dictionary chancre — [shaŋ′kər] n. [Fr: see CANCER] the primary lesion, sore, or ulcer of any of various diseases, esp. of syphilis chancrous [shaŋ′krəs] adj …   English World dictionary 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”