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). When the patient stops secreting or producing infectious agents is when meningitis is no longer contagious. As noted above, you may still be contagious for about 24 to 48 hours after starting a course of antibiotics. Anyone can get it but viral meningitis is more common in babies & young children. We need you to answer this question! Bacterial meningitis is usually less contagious than viral; depending on the bacterial genus causing the infection, it may be contagious during the incubation period and for about an additional seven to 14 days. When a person is "infectious", it means they're able to pass their infection on to others. Antibiotics are typically given three times a day for 7 to 21 days, depending on the type of bacteria organism causing the meningitis and the type of antibiotic chosen. How Long Is Pneumonia Contagious after Antibiotics Treatment? Antibiotics cannot kill viruses, so they’re ineffective for treating viral meningitis, a less serious form of meningitis. How long is viral meningitis contagious? How Long is Viral Meningitis Contagious? Asked in Health , Conditions and Diseases , Meningitis You are contagious 24 hours after you get the antibiotic for strep. Antibiotics are not prescribed in patients suffering from viral meningitis since they have no effects against viruses. How long will I be infectious after starting antibiotics? And they can be contagious for much longer (many days to months) if the person becomes a carrier. Rarely life-threatening it can still leave people with life-changing after-effects. Is Bacterial Meningitis Contagious. N. meningitidis is a very fragile bacteria and does not survive very long outside of the body. Doctor answers on Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and More: Dr. Lutwick on how long is bacterial meningitis contagious: Meningococcal is transmissible and 24 hours of appropriate therapy is adequate to prevent spread. How Long is Viral Meningitis Contagious? 1 2 Between 10-20 percent of the population are asymptomatic carriers of N. meningitidis , the bacteria responsible for invasive meningococcal disease. The recovery for viral meningitis includes plenty of bed rest in a dark and quiet room. A diagnostic and therapeutic difficulty is "partially treated meningitis", where there are meningitis symptoms after receiving antibiotics (such as for presumptive sinusitis). How long can meningitis be contagious? When a person is "infectious", it means they're able to pass their infection on to others. You're usually no longer infectious 24 hours after starting a course of antibiotics, although this time period can sometimes vary. Find out how long you should stay home if you contract it. The recovery for viral meningitis includes plenty of bed rest in a dark and quiet room. Even after a person starts taking antibiotics for meningitis , the infection can still spread to others for at least 24 hours. How long will I be infectious after starting antibiotics? Is bacterial meningitis contagious after antibiotics? Antibiotics are not prescribed in patients suffering from viral meningitis since they have no effects against viruses. A simple bacterial infection is frequently rendered no longer contagious after 2 to 3 days of treatment with the proper antibiotic. Meningitis can be a very serious illness. “If you are sick with a bacterial infection, then your health care provider may prescribe you antibiotics,” said Pittman. Usually, the a general guideline would be that a person is not contagious after 48 hours' worth of antibiotics. Meningitis can be caused by fungi, parasites, injury, or viral or bacterial infection. You're usually no longer infectious 24 hours after starting a course of antibiotics, although this time period can sometimes vary. Bacterial meningitis incubation period refers to the time gap from the time the disease-causing bacteria enters the body, to the time when the symptoms are first seen. Luckily, the disease is not so contagious and it cannot be spread through air or by a casual contact with the infected person. In general, when the patient is secreting or producing viruses or bacteria, they are considered contagious. How long am I contagious after starting antibiotics? The cause determines if it is contagious. How long after strep throat treated with antibiotics are you contagious? The incubation period for bacterial meningitis is 2-10 days . Infective agents in bacterial meningitis are spread by direct contact with infective discharge from the nose or throat. Viral caused meningitis may be contagious from three days after infection starts to about 10 days after the symptoms develop. Strep throat is a highly contagious bacterial infection. for topic: How Long Is Bacterial Meningitis Contagious Antibiotics cannot kill viruses, so they’re ineffective for treating viral meningitis, a less serious form of meningitis. Fever is controlled with acetaminophen and a patient may be administered intravenous fluids. The contagious period for pneumonia depends on how soon you start treatment. The experts at WebMD answer basic questions about the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of the disease.