It really depends on the infection or illness that you are talking about. Many things that a person would be on antibiotics for are not contagious -- ear infections, or sinus infections, etc.
And many things that are contagious are not something you'd take antibiotics for -- a cold, for instance, or chicken pox. Even if a doctor has prescribed you antibiotics for a secondary infection (like bronchitis, for instance) the cold is still contagious as long as you are sneezing and coughing (though it's most contagious in the first few days).
Usually, the a general guideline would be that a person is not contagious after 48 hours' worth of antibiotics. With strep throat, a general guideline is 24 hours.
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Cindy, good question, thanks for asking!
It really depends on the infection or illness that you are talking about. Many things that a person would be on antibiotics for are not contagious -- ear infections, or sinus infections, etc.
And many things that are contagious are not something you'd take antibiotics for -- a cold, for instance, or chicken pox. Even if a doctor has prescribed you antibiotics for a secondary infection (like bronchitis, for instance) the cold is still contagious as long as you are sneezing and coughing (though it's most contagious in the first few days).
Usually, the a general guideline would be that a person is not contagious after 48 hours' worth of antibiotics. With strep throat, a general guideline is 24 hours.
February 9, 2009 - 10:21amThis Comment
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