For many families, sending a child home early because of head lice is a common occurrence during the school year. However, parents may be surprised to learn that the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say students with head lice infestations can stay in the classroom longer.

“Students with lice may go home at the end of the day, receive treatment, and return to class after appropriate treatment has begun,” the CDC said in February 2024, stressing that the guidelines “have not changed.”

“Unnecessary absences place a burden on students, their families, and the community and far outweigh the risks associated with head lice,” the CDC statement continued.

The protocol is in line with a recent study by the American Association of Pediatrics, which states that head lice infestation is neither a health threat nor a sign of poor hygiene, and the stigma associated with the diagnosis “can lead to psychological stress.”

“Head lice are an unpleasant part of human life, but they can be successfully controlled and are not a reason for a child to stay home from school,” said Dawn Nolt, MD, MPH, FAAP, lead author of the report, which was prepared by the AAP’s Committee on Infectious Diseases, Committee on Practical and Ambulatory Medicine, and Division of Dermatology.

Before the 2022 academic year, the AAP last updated its guidelines for treating head lice in 2015.

What do the current CDC guidelines say about lice?

The CDC says students with lice infestations do not need to be sent home early from school. It also noted that laypersons’ examinations often misdiagnose nits – the eggs that head lice lay.

The AAP, based in Itasca, Illinois, says this is the first update to its head lice treatment guidelines since 2015.

“Nits may remain in the hair after treatment, but successful treatment kills crawling lice,” the CDC said. “Many nits are more than ¼ inch from the scalp and are unlikely to hatch into crawling lice, or they are actually empty shells (i.e., casings).”

The instructions go on to say that although nits attach themselves to the hair shafts, transmission to other people is very unlikely.

Both the AAP and the National Association of School Nurses believe that schools with “no-nit” or “nit-free” policies – where a child must be free of nits before returning to school – should be closed, the policy says.

“Unnecessary absences place a burden on students, their families, and the community and far outweigh the risks associated with head lice,” the CDC said.

What lice treatment does the CDC recommend?

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, head lice can be transmitted from person to person through direct contact. They can also be transmitted via clothing or by sharing infested hairbrushes or combs.

“Once head lice are present in the home, school or facility, they typically spread quickly,” the IDPH said.

If your child has symptoms of head lice infestation, the CDC recommends checking the child’s head, especially behind the ears and on the neck, for crawling lice and nits.

“If you discover crawling lice or nits, check all household members for head lice every 2-3 days. Treat anyone who has live (crawling) lice or nits within a quarter inch or less of the scalp.”

According to the CDC, lice can be treated with both over-the-counter and prescription products.

What are the guidelines for schools in Illinois?

School policies may vary, and according to the CDC, most health departments do not require reporting of head lice infestations.

The Illinois Department of Public Health website states that head lice are not a reportable condition and reiterates CDC guidelines by stating, “Students diagnosed with live head lice do not need to be sent home from school early.”

“They can go home at the end of the day, receive treatment, and return to class once appropriate treatment has begun,” the IDPH said.