Incubation Period for Strep Throat
After a person has been infected with the bacteria (group A streptococcus) that cause strep throat, they do not immediately have any signs or symptoms of strep throat. On average, it takes about two to four days for symptoms to start. This period between transmission and the beginning of symptoms is called the "strep throat incubation period."
This throat infection is typically spread through contact with infected throat mucus, nasal discharge, or saliva. This can happen in one of a couple of different ways. It can be spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs and the infected mucus lands in another person's nose, throat, or eyes. Strep throat can also be spread by touching a surface that has infectious fluids on it and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
(For more information on the incubation period for strep throat, click Strep Throat Transmission. This article also discusses what causes this throat infection and explains how it is spread.)