Right after the first proper treatment - often the same evening or next morning.
CDC guidance centers on prompt treatment rather than exclusion: lice crawl head-to-head and cannot hop or fly, and they die within two days off a head, so a treated child poses little onward risk. Some schools keep no-nit policies - check yours - but nits far from the scalp are usually hatched or dead. What matters most: follow the product instructions exactly, including the second application.
What to do
Common questions
When can my kid go back to school after lice?
Right after the first proper treatment - often the same evening or the next morning. The current public-health approach, reflected in CDC guidance, is prompt treatment rather than exclusion: lice mainly spread by direct head-to-head contact during play - they crawl and cannot hop or fly - so a child who has been treated with an over-the-counter or prescription product poses little onward risk, and there is no reason for days of missed school or for sending kids home early. Some schools still run their own no-nit policies, so check your school's rule, but know the science behind the modern stance: nits glued more than a quarter-inch from the scalp are nearly always hatched or dead, and lice off a head die within two days. The treatment discipline matters more than the calendar: follow the product instructions exactly, do the recommended second application to catch hatchlings, comb through with the nit comb, and wash bedding and recently worn items hot. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you plan the treatment round for the whole household.