How Contagious Is Strep Throat, And Can I Pass It To Someone Else By Kissing Them?

Dec. 17, 2008 -- Question: How contagious is strep throat, and can I pass it to someone else by kissing them?

Answer: Strep throat is contagious.

You can pass strep throat by coughing, sneezing. And the most likely cause of passing strep throat, or any infection, is hand-to-hand. Frequent hand washing helps cut down the spread of infection, so that is an important piece to do when viruses and colds and strep throat is going around your office.

But strep throat can also be passed on inanimate objects so that silverware and glassware, if it's not properly washed, can certainly pass it. And certainly the kissing can pass it.

So it's not just mono that's a kissing disease, strep, too, can be a kissing disease.