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Lehmann was taken to a Melbourne hospital overnight for treatment on his right leg, Australian Cricket Board (ACB) doctor Trefor James said on Tuesday.
Uncapped Queensland batsman Martin Love, who scored two double centuries against England in tour matches this season, flew to Melbourne on Tuesday and was placed on standby to join the 12-man squad should Lehmann fail to recover.
"Darren was admitted to hospital overnight on Monday and will receive a course of intravenous antibiotics," James said in an ACB statement.
"It is hoped he will be discharged on Christmas Day depending on his progress over the next 24 hours."
The Lehmann suffered the ailment just as he had been fighting to regain a regular Test place.
The 32-year-old left-hander returned to the side for the first time in four years when veteran Mark Waugh was dumped for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane in November and Waugh promptly retired.
In five previous Tests, Lehmann had scored 228 runs at 28.50, and in the current series he has made 97 runs at an average of 32.33 with a highest score of 42.
Selectors had placed added faith in Lehmann last week by appointing him stand-in vice-captain for the one-day side in the absence of injured wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.
The South Australia state captain responded with a creative 119 in Australia's 142-run
"Lehmann made a great hundred in the one-day series and that's probably just the impetus he needs in the Test matches," Australia Test captain Steve Waugh told a news conference on Tuesday.
"He's a quality player. If he doesn't play he'll be disappointed because he'll feel he's in good form at the moment."
Lehmann's withdrawal would ensure Love's Test debut. Australia's fastest bowler Brett Lee is favoured to win the third seamer's role ahead of Andy Bichel, while Stuart MacGill replaces leg-spinner Shane Warne, who had shoulder surgery nine days ago.
Love, 28, has scored 781 runs at an average of 130.16 during the 2002-03 Australia first-class season, including 250 for Queensland against England and 201 not out for Australia A against England. The talented right-hander also hit 190 for Queensland against Tasmania in Hobart last week.
"You're only as good as your next bat but I guess I've had the experience against them and have scored some runs so that'll give me the bit of extra confidence that I may have been lacking if I was playing someone that I hadn't played before," Love told reporters at Melbourne airport on Tuesday.
"It's just an opportunity at this stage to play one game. If Darren's fit then I've had that endorsement from the selectors that I was next in line so we'll just wait and see what happens over the next couple of days."
