risk factors
Last reviewed 01/2018
The exact cause of gastroschisis is unknown.
The following have been reported to be associated with the development of the condition:
- low maternal age
- one European study found that compared with mothers aged 25-29, the relative risk was 7.0 (95% confidence interval 5.6 to 8.7) for mothers under 20 and 2.4 (2.0 to 3.0) for mothers aged 20-24 years.
- use of illicit drugs - cocaine
- early and unprotected sexual intercourse
- maternal smoking
- genitourinary infection.
- low parity
- low socio-economic status
- poor maternal diet
- drugs - decongestants, ibuprofen and aspirin (1,2)
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