How long is strep contagious?

Answer 1

Up to 24 hours after it has been treated with antibiotics. You should stay home from work or school at least 24 hour after receiving an antibiotic shot or starting an oral antibiotic treatment even if you feel better. You should also finish all your antibiotic pills, for the full ten days, even after you feel better to prevent further infection or relapse.

Answer 2

Within 3 days after exposure to the germ that causes strep's painful sore throat, you may get sick. Once infected with strep, you are contagious for up to 2 to 3 weeks, even without symptoms. However, taking antibiotics you will no longer spread the bacteria to others after about 24 hours.

Answer 3

Streptococcus organisms are usually exquisitely sensitive to antibiotics and are killed within 2 days of beginning treatment. After this point, one should no longer be able to spread the infection to others.

Answer 4

Strep throat is contagious for as long as it is untreated. If an individual has strep throat for three weeks, untreated, then that person can transmit the disease any time during those three weeks.

However, if antibiotic treatment is started (after a confirmatory test/culture), then that person would only be contagious for 24 hours after the inititation of antibiotic treatment.

Answer 5

I think what you meant was how long before I start showing/feeling symptoms can I be contagious. Usually for 1-2 days.

Answer 6

Properly treated the person may not spread the strep throat after ten days. Most of them recover sooner. Untreated, some become chronic carriers and can spread the disease, indefinitely.