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SALT LAKE CITY — Summer is winding down, but doctors are already seeing fall and winter illnesses in patients.
The common complaints: stomach bugs, strep throat and respiratory infections. But one illness seems to be showing up more than others: croup.
Meeting young Krew in the doctor's office Wednesday didn't give us the real picture of his personality.
Krew Bingham's mom, Mindy, says her son is typically happy, energetic, and climbing all over things. But that wasn't the case Wednesday, as Krew was getting over croup for the second time.
"That barking seal cough, it's awful," Mindy said. "You get so nervous they're going to stop breathing."
The sharp cough is caused by a swollen airway: the more swollen the airway, the worse it gets.
Pediatric Dr. Keith Ramsey says his clinic, Jordan Ridge Kids and Teens, is seeing an increase in croup cases — several already this week. He describes it as a scary illness because it can get so severe.
"It can get to the point where they can't breathe because the swelling is so bad that their airway is really small," Ramsey said.
That's what happened to 4-year-old Jack Owen last weekend, and he ended up in the emergency room
"He woke up really distressed — just couldn't get a breath, couldn't breathe," his mother, Kristina Owen, said. "I don't know who was more scared, him or me."
It took an hour of a breathing treatment to calm down Jack's breathing, and more time to battle a high fever. Wednesday he was feeling much better, much to the relief of his mom.
"I'm hoping this is his one for the season," Kristina said.
So, how do you tell when it's time to take your child to the emergency room? Doctors say if they can't breathe, trying turning on the shower and steaming up the bathroom, or taking them outside into the cool night air. If they're not doing better after 20 minutes, it's time to go to the hospital.
