Why is it very important to detect and treat a strep throat?

Studies have shown that if treated within the first 48 hours of symptoms, the duration of the symptoms is reduced by one to two days. If untreated, the body will generally clear the infection within two to five days, and this is the usual course of the illness.

Another reason to treat strep infection early is that there is a 35% reduction in transmitting the disease by contact. There are reports that within 24 hours of starting antibiotics such as penicillin, individuals become minimally contagious.