PLoS Negl Trop Dis 12 (4): e0006273, 2018. doi: 10.1371 / journal. pntd.0006273 Symptoms and Signs of Chancroid After an incubation period of 3 to 7 days, small, painful papules appear on the genitals and rapidly break down into shallow, soft, painful ulcers with ragged, undermined edges (ie, with overhanging tissue) and a red border.