A 21-year-old college student presents to the university campus clinic. The nurse collects the patient's medical history and performs an initial assessment. The patient states, "I'm having a herpes flair, and I need a prescription for acyclovir." The nurse examines the lesion on the shaft of his penis. The ulcer is 2 cm in size and seems painless and hard upon palpation.
-Based upon the assessment of the lesion,what is the most likely diagnosis?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presentation of a painless, hard ulcer on the shaft of the penis is consistent with primary syphilis. Herpes lesions are typically painful and soft. Chancroid is a possibility but is less common, and human papillomavirus infection does not typically present as ulcers. A diagnosis should be confirmed with further testing (e.g., blood tests for syphilis).

A 21-Year-Old College Student Presents to the University Campus Clinic