During pregnancy, the umbilical cord passes through a small opening in the baby's abdominal muscles. The opening normally closes just after birth. If the muscles don't join together completely in the midline of the abdomen, this weakness in the abdominal wall may cause an umbilical hernia at birth or later in life.
Ileus may also be caused by an infection inside the abdomen, such as appendicitis or diverticulitis. Disorders outside the intestine, such as kidney failure, an underactive thyroid gland, or abnormal levels of blood electrolytes (low potassium levels or high calcium levels, for example), may cause ileus.
However, there are several other causes of an ileus. These include: intestinal cancer; Crohnâs disease, which causes the intestinal walls to get thicker due to autoimmune inflammation; diverticulitis; Parkinsonâs disease, which affects muscles and nerves in the intestines; These are the most common ileus causes in adults. Children can also have an ileus. According to the Mayo Clinic, intussusception is the most common cause for an ileus in children. This is when a part of the intestine âtelescopesâ or slides into itself.