Strep Exposure

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Symptom Definition

• Close contact with strep: the child lives in a home where a sibling, parent or other household member has a throat culture or rapid-strep test that is positive for strep throat. Usually the contact is within the previous 7 days (reason: incubation period for strep is 2 to 5 days).
• Limited contact with strep: Exposed to someone outside the home with a positive strep test.
• Sometimes the contact is with a person who was treated for clinical symptoms of a strep infection without any culture or testing.
• If the contact was with someone taking antibiotics for over 24 hours, they are not contagious.
• Throat cultures and rapid strep tests aren't urgent. Most can be done in your doctor's office.