In this podcast we are joined by pediatric emergency medicine physician Dr. Julia Magana, to discuss fever in newborns. Specifically from birth to 3 months old. Any fever over 100.4 this age group is considered an emergency. In this episode we discuss why fevers are more dangerous in this young age group, what a typical work-up for infections may look - usually with blood and urine testing. We also dive into a new study that provides strong evidence that not all newborns under the age of 28 days need a lumbar puncture, a previously universal recommendation to rule out meningitis. 

Resources 

Prediction of Bacteremia and Bacterial Meningitis Among Febrile Infants Aged 28 days and Younger | JAMA 

Prediction Rule to Identify Febrile Infants 61-90 Days at Low Risk for Invasive Bacterial Infections | Pediatrics 

 Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network

Fever and Your Baby | HealthyChildren.org

How to Take Your Child's Temperature | HealthyChildren.org