UNAIDS and the World Health Organization estimate the global incidence of chancroid to be approximately 6 million cases per year. Chancroid is uncommon in developed countries but may be prevalent in areas of crack cocaine use and prostitution. Chancroid is a common cause of genital ulcer disease in developing countries. Lack of diagnostic testing and difficulty of culturing H. ducreyi make true incidence difficult to determine, therefore potentially leading to under-diagnosis of chancroid in both developed and developing countries. The male to female ratio of patients with chancroid ranges from 3:1 in endemic areas to 25:1 during outbreak situations. Chancroid is common in areas with high rates of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection because HIV infection is a risk factor for acquiring H. ducreyi.

• UNAIDS and the World Health Organization estimate the global incidence of chancroid to be approximately 6 million cases per year.^[1]
• A true incidence is difficult to determine due to lack of readily available diagnostic testing. H. ducreyi is difficult to culture so chancroid may be under-diagnosed.^[2]
• Since 1987, reported cases of chancroid declined steadily until 2001. Since then, the number of cases reported has fluctuated, but still appearing to decline overall.^[2]

• Chancroid may develop in individuals of any age but is typically found in sexually active individuals with a mean patient age of 30 years.

• The male-to-female ratio of patients with chancroid ranges from 3:1 in endemic areas to 25:1 during outbreak situations.^[1]
• Female sex workers with either symptomatic chancroid or as asymptomatic carriers serve as a reservoir for H. ducreyi.^[1]

• Although race is not a risk factor, chancroid is seen more commonly in African Americans and Hispanics in the United States.^[3]

• Chancroid is uncommon in the United States and other developed countries, but can been present in endemic areas associated with the use of crack cocaine and prostitution.
• In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 6 cases of chancroid in 2014.^[4]
• The majority of cases in developed countries occur in individuals who have returned from chancroid-endemic areas in the world.

• Chancroid is a major cause of genital ulcer disease in Africa, southeast Asia and parts of Latin America.^[5]
• Acquiring epidemiological data is more difficult in developing countries due to greater lack of resources to test for H. ducreyi.
• Chancroid is common in countries that have high rates of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, because HIV facilitates acquisition of H. ducreyi and vice versa.^[1]

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