How Long Is Strep Throat Contagious? Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by Group A streptococcus bacteria. Although only 5 to 10 percent of sore throats are strep throat, up to 15 percent of doctor's visits for a sore throat are due to strep. It takes 2 to 5 days from the time of exposure until symptoms appear. During this time, you are already contagious. If you see a doctor promptly and test positive for strep via a rapid strep test, they can promptly put you on antibiotics. If the rapid strep test is negative, they may do a throat culture. This is a more sensitive test, but the down side is that it takes 48 hours to get the results. Antibiotic Use With Strep It is important to positively identify strep before prescribing …show more content…
The minimum figure assumes the minimal incubation period of 2 days, promptly being seen by a doctor, testing positive with a rapid strep test and being given antibiotics immediately. The following day, you will no longer be contagious. The maximum figure assumes you get no treatment at all. Without treatment, you can remain contagious for up to 3 weeks, which is 21 days. While you are contagious, you can reduce risk to other people by not sharing drinks, utensils or anything else that might directly expose them to the germs in your mouth. Wash hands frequently and/or use hand sanitizer. Try to cough or sneeze away from other people. You should both face away from them and physically distance yourself from them if at all possible. A sneeze cam travel up to 100 miles per hour, therefore your germs travel farther than you think when you sneeze. Because you are at your most contagious during the 2 to 5 day incubation period when you do not yet know you are sick, you should do your best to protect others from your germs at all times. So, wash hands and cough away from people always. It is the only way to be