THE CHANCROID IN ALGERIA - STATE OF THIS SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASE(STD) IN 1995

Absent for several decades, the chancroid reappeared in Algeria in 198 8. in the unique department of Dermatology and Venereology of the Univ ersity Hospital of the country of Tlemcen (more than 700,000 inhabitan ts), we wanted to know the state oi this STD seven years after the rep ort of the lint cases. The file of the consulting patients were examin ed. We looked for the principal characteristics oi this STD: age, sex, incubation period, place infection contact, type of relation, clinica l presentation, evolution without and with treatment, other associated STD (syphilis, HIV). From August 1988 (Ist case) to December 1995 144 cases of chancroid were collected = 1988 : 6 1989:5, 1990:7, 1991:18, 1992:11, 1993:33, 1994:48, 1995:16. The presentation is quite stereot yped; it concerns males only, singles in must cases, having had sexual relations with prostitutes. The incubation period is short (less than Ia days), the characteristic ulceration presents, very often, some ad enopathies. The treatment by cotrimoxazole is efficient. They are no c oncomitant syphilis or HIV infection. The chancroid is the first cause of genital ulceration in tile world. Since 1991, it is the principal STD in our department, it spreads within a male population, young sing les associated with prostitutes. it is well installed in Algeria, and its role, although minor in the transmission oi the HIV infection, sho uld not be neglected.