Which term describes a lesion that is typically painless and ulcerating?

Which term describes a lesion that is typically painless and ulcerating?

• A. Chancre
• B. Cocci
• C. Bacilli
• D. Endospores

Answer: (A)

A chancre describes a painless, ulcerating lesion. It’s the classic primary lesion of syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum. The ulcer typically has a clean base and indurated (firm) edges and is usually painless because the inflammatory response is limited. It appears at the infection site about three weeks after exposure and tends to heal on its own over a few weeks. The other terms refer to microorganisms or their structures (cocci are spherical bacteria, bacilli are rod-shaped bacteria, endospores are dormant survival forms) and do not describe a type of lesion.

A chancre describes a painless, ulcerating lesion. It’s the classic primary lesion of syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum. The ulcer typically has a clean base and indurated (firm) edges and is usually painless because the inflammatory response is limited. It appears at the infection site about three weeks after exposure and tends to heal on its own over a few weeks. The other terms refer to microorganisms or their structures (cocci are spherical bacteria, bacilli are rod-shaped bacteria, endospores are dormant survival forms) and do not describe a type of lesion.