Daily AncestorFalse croup
False croup, or spasmodic croup, was the milder croup caused by a virus, as opposed to true or membranous croup, which was usually diphtheria.
Wiktionary defines false croup as a dated name for the form of croup caused by a virus rather than the diphtheria germ.
Before vaccination croup was often caused by diphtheria and was often fatal, which is why doctors took care to call the milder kind false. Most croup today is viral and mild.
As seen in a recordCause of death column, 1850 to 1880 federal mortality schedule
Eddie Platt, 2, M, W, Jan., False croup
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "False croup." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/causes-of-death/false-croup. Last checked 2026-10-10.