How Contagious is Strep Throat?

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Strep throat is something that most of usually take for granted. A lot of us would even do self medication until the symptoms are already gone. However, strep throat is a very serious health concern that all of us must be on guard. This type of infection is caused by a bacterium called the group A streptococcus. This means that the right antibiotic is needed immediately in order to combat the spread and this particular organism. In addition to this strep throat is also considered to be a dangerous condition, which can lead to many complications in the heart and the kidneys. But how contagious is strep throat?

Strep throat is considered as a highly contagious disease. This is due to the fact that it is simply transmitted through sneezing and coughing, which ejects millions of small particles into the air that once inhaled or comes in contact with the mouth, can already lead to contamination. Another mode of transmission for this disease is through hand to hand contact. This occurs whenever an infected person comes in contact with his or her secretions and is able to touch another person’s hand. This way, the bacterium is already transferred to another individual. Because of this type of bacterial dissemination, it is very ideal for us to frequently wash our hands before eating or after coming in contact with other individuals. It is even better for us to carry small hand sanitizers in order to effectively wipe off any bacteria from our hands. Aside from this, other inanimate objects such as silverwares and glass wares can also be the cause of transmission. Once touched by a contaminated hand, these materials can hold on to these bacteria until another person touches it. Basing on these facts, we can definitely say that strep throat is indeed a very contagious disease. In addition, kissing is also perfect and direct way of passing the disease which is why it must be strictly avoided.

This type of bacterium can also be spread 24 hours after the treatment and can even last up to 10 to 21 days if left unmanaged or untreated. These symptoms usually appear 2 to 5 days after the exposure; however, these symptoms usually vary from one person to another. Some of the general signs of strep throat infection include swollen and red throat with dark red spots, mild to severe soreness of the throat, high grade fever, tender and swollen lymph nodes and the presence of pus or white streaks on the tonsils. Others can also experience headaches, nausea and body aches. These are just some of the important facts about strep throat, which includes its mode of transmission and common symptoms.