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chancre

 
American Heritage Dictionary:

chan·cre

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(shăng'kər) pronunciation
n.
  1. A dull red, hard, insensitive lesion that is the first manifestation of syphilis.
  2. An ulcer located at the initial point of entry of a pathogen.

[French, from Old French, from Latin cancer, tumor, crab.]

chancrous chan'crous (-krəs) adj.

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Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:

chancre

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Primary sore or ulcer at the site of entry of a pathogen; specifically, the typical skin lesion of primary infectious syphilis. In women it is often internal and may go unnoticed. This single red papule (bump), usually occurring about three weeks after infection, and painless regional lymph-node swelling are the major signs of early-stage syphilis. Identification of Treponema pallidum in its fluid makes the diagnosis. The chancre heals in two to six weeks, but syphilis progresses unless treated with penicillin.

For more information on chancre, visit Britannica.com.

Word Tutor:

chancre

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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: n. - A small hard painless nodule at the site of entry of a pathogen (as syphilis).

Tutor's tip: "Cancer" is a malignant growth in the body or a wicked, spreading action or idea, a "canker" is a sore in the mouth, while a "chancre" is an ulcer caused by venereal disease.

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

Saunders Veterinary Dictionary:

chancre

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The 2 to 4 in, hard, hot, painful lesion which develops at the site of tsetse-fly bites when the fly is a transmitter of trypanosomiasis. In human medicine, refers to the primary lesion of syphilis.

Mosby's Dental Dictionary:

chancre

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(shang′kur)
n
autochthonous ulcer

The primary lesion of syphilis, located at the site of entrance of the spirochete into the body, occurring about 3 weeks after contact. It begins as a papule and then develops into a clean-based shallow ulcer. Secondary infection may produce suppuration. Has the appearance of a buttonlike mass because of the contiguous induration and rolled border. Weeping characteristics also are present.

Random House Word Menu:

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Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Chancre

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Chancre on the underside of the penis

A chancre (play /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 as well as a painless ulceration formed during the primary stage of syphilis, are associated with the African trypanosomiasis sleeping sickness, surrounding the area of the tsetse fly bite.

Contents

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

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. 


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Copyrights:

American Heritage Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 1994-2012 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Word Tutor. Copyright © 2004-present by eSpindle Learning, a 501(c) nonprofit organization. All rights reserved.
eSpindle provides personalized spelling and vocabulary tutoring online; sign up free.  Read more
Saunders Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Random House Word Menu. © 2010 Write Brothers Inc. Word Menu is a registered trademark of the Estate of Stephen Glazier. Write Brothers Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia on Answers.com. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Chancre.  Read more