Phlebitis has many causes. Some of the common causes of phlebitis are:
- Local trauma or injury to the vein
- Travelling, such as, long driving or plane rides
- Insertion of intravenous catheters (IV) in hospitals, or IV induced phlebitis
- After surgery (post-operative period), especially orthopedic procedures
- Prolonged immobility, as in hospitalized or bed-ridden patients
- Varicose veins
- Underlying cancers or clotting disorders
- Disruption of normal venous system drainage because of removal of lymph nodes, for example, after mastectomy for breast cancer
- intravenous drug use
- Patients with burns
- Use of oral contraceptive pills
- Obesity
- Smoking cigarettes
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Pregnancy