Chancroid
Chancroid is an STI that causes sores on the
genitals. It is easily confused with syphilis.
Signs of chancroid
• one or more soft, painful sores
on the genitals or anus that bleed easily
• enlarged, painful glands (buboes) in the groin
• slight fever
Sores on the genitals
To treat chancroid
• give 500 mg erythromycin ������������������������������������������������by mouth, 4 times
a day for 7 days
or
• inject 250 mg ceftriaxone ���������������������������������������������������in the muscle, 1 time only
Genital herpes
Genital herpes is a virus that causes painful blisters which burst and turn into sores
on the skin. Herpes is spread when the sore on one person touches another
person’s skin — usually during sexual intercourse. Genital herpes usually affects
the genitals or anus. Rarely, the sores may spread to the mouth during oral sex.
Note: Some sores on the mouth — called cold sores — are caused by
another type of herpes. These sores may be passed from the mouth to
the genitals during oral sex.
Signs of herpes
• tingling, itching, or pain on the genitals
• small blisters that burst and form painful
open sores on the genitals
Once a person has the virus, he or she can get sores
many times. The first time a person has herpes sores,
blisters
from
genital
herpes
they can last 3 weeks or more. The person may also
have fever, headaches, body aches, chills, and swollen
lymph nodes near the genitals. The next infections are usually not as bad as the
first one.
To stop the spread of herpes, people should not have sex when they have a sore.
Condoms may prevent the spread of herpes, if the condom is covering the sore.
Condoms for women may work even better because they cover more of the
genitals.
A Book for Midwives (2010)
331