The likelihood of transmission is greater if a person is very active sexually and does not practice personal hygiene. The first sign of infection is usually the appearance of one or more sores or raised bumps on the genital organs. They are surrounded by a narrow red border which soon becomes filled with pus and eventually ruptures, leaving a painful open sore. In 50 percent of untreated cases, the chancroid bacteria infect the lymph glands in the groin. A rounded painful swelling results which may eventually rupture.
Symptoms usually appear four to seven days after exposure.
Chancroid is contagious as long as the infected person has any open sores. The open sores contain bacteria and any contact with these sores can result in infection. Untreated chancroid often results in ulcers occurring on the genitals. Sometimes the ulcers persist for weeks or months. Reinfection can readily occur immediately after cure.