The reappearance of chancroid in Algeria
Boudghene-Stambouli, O.; Merad-Boudia, A.; Aissa-Mamoun, A.
Bulletin de la Societe de Pathologie Exotique 85(4): 276-278
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-9085 PMID: 1446174 Document Number: 336835
During August 1988 to December 1991 in western Algeria, the dermato-venereology department of the University Hospital in Tlemcen observed 35 cases of chancroid, all of whom were male. About 50% of the cases (18) occurred in 1991. Predominant characteristics of the chancroid cases included contact with prostitutes (30 cases), single (29), and age ranging from 20 to 30 years (70%). Leading sites where contamination occurred were Bel Abbes (90 km from Tlemcen) (12 cases), Tlemcen (4 cases), and Morocco (5 cases). The mean incubation period was 15 days (range, 3 days to 5 months). The genital ulcer appeared within 10 days in 19 men. More than 50% of the men made a visit to the clinic before 20 days of the chancroid's evolution. The ulcer appeared only once in 25 cases. It was accompanied by moderate pain in 13 cases. Gland enlargement occurred in all but 4 cases. None of the cases tested positive for syphilis or for HIV. 25 patients were successfully treated with 4 doses of co-trimoxazole per day for 10-15 days. Erythromycin was used to successfully treat five patients at a dose of 2 g/d for 10 days. The 10-day treatment for the last five cases consisted of 200 mg doxycycline per day, 2 g oxytetracycline per day, and 1 g intramuscular streptomycin. This combination treatment was also effective.