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Background: Fever in the newborn is a major warning sign and should never be considered as a common symptom. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the epidemiological, clinical, and etiological characteristics of the newborn admitted for fever, to study the predictive factors of a bacterial infection. Materials and methods: In this prospective study conducted between January 1 2010 and December 31 2010, all neonates admitted in the unit of intensive care and neonatology of the university children's hospital (Casablanca, Morocco) for fever was included. Fever is defined by a rectal temperature greater or equal to 37°8. Results: During the study period, 59 febrile neonates were evaluated. Fever represented 9.2% of all neonatal admissions. There were 37 boys (sex ratio=1.7). Age at fever onset was less than 3 days in 25.5% of cases, between 4 and 10 days in 32.2% of cases and above 10 days in 42.3% of cases. The average delay for consultation after fever onset was less than 32 hours ± 24. The temperature ranged from 38°5 and 39°5 in 23 patients (39%) and was superior or equal to 39°5 in 19% of the cases. Bacterial infection occurred in 34 neonates (57%) dominated by the urinary tract infection in 11 cases (18.6%), sepsis in 7 patients (11.8%), purulent meningitis was documented in 4 newborns (7%). Predictive factors suggesting bacterial infection were a temperature superior or equal to 39.5 °C ( p=0,001) and CRP value > 20 mg/L ( p< 0.001) and PCT value > 0.5 ng/ml ( p <0.001). The evolution was favorable without complications in 53 newborn children (91.5%). Four patients died of sepsis (7%). Conclusion: Fever in the newborn is an indicator of bacterial infection (57% in our study). Every febrile neonate should be admitted for a clinical evaluation, supervision and assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]