Answer: YES

Fever in babies less than 8 weeks of age needs to be addressed promptly, and you should call your doctor to get further instructions. In infants less than 2 months of age, any fever over 100.6 needs to be investigated. Often the fever may be due to a viral infection, but newborns are at a higher risk for serious infections such as kidney infections, pneumonia, blood infections and meningitis, than in other age groups.

If your baby has a fever, expect blood tests, urine studies, x-rays and often a lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis. Be sure to let your baby’s doctor know about any infections that you may have had while pregnant or at the time of delivery. If you know your Group B Strep status, tell your baby’s doctor.