Vein inflammation causes phlebitis. Often, inflammation is accompanied by formation of a blood clot which is medically known as a thrombus. When thrombus causes improper blood circulation in veins it causes thrombophlebitis which is generally of two types. One is superficial thrombophlebitis that causes pain but does not affect health seriously. However, the other type is deep thrombophlebitis which could affect your health adversely because it infects interior blood vessels.

Thrombophlebitis could be caused by the following:

Using of IV intravenous catheters (IV). Postoperative period mostly is orthopedic cases. Prolonged inactivity such as permanent disability or hospitalization. Underlying cancers or clotting disorder. Disruption of normal venous system drainage because of removal of lymph nodes. For example, after mastectomy or breast cancer. Intravenous drug use. Continuously doing same work like driving or flying plain. Patients with the burn.

Women suffer from thrombophelbitis more because of pregnancy, obesity, abdominal straining, etc. Phlebitis often includes local infection and abscess formation, blood clotting that could progress to deep venous thrombophelbitis and pulmonary embolism.