Pediatric "body packing".
BACKGROUND
Recent events in the United States have led to increased security at national borders, resulting in an unexpected increase in drug seizures. In response, drug smugglers may begin using children as couriers, including using them as "body packers."


OBJECTIVE
To look at the occurrence of body packing, the concealing of contraband within the human body, which is well documented in adults, in the pediatric literature.


METHODS
Two cases of pediatric body packing, in boys aged 16 years and 12 years. Patient 1, a 16-year-old boy, presented with findings consistent with opioid intoxication after arriving in the United States on a transcontinental flight. His mental status improved after he received naloxone hydrochloride, and he subsequently confessed to body packing heroin. He was treated with a naloxone infusion and aggressive gastrointestinal decontamination. He ultimately passed 53 packets of heroin, one of which had ruptured. He recovered uneventfully. Patient 2, a 12-year-old boy, presented to the emergency department with rectal bleeding. He had recently arrived in the United States from Europe, and he confessed to body packing heroin. He was treated with whole-bowel irrigation and activated charcoal, and he subsequently passed 84 packets. He also recovered uneventfully.


CONCLUSIONS
We report the first 2 cases of body packing in the pediatric literature and review the diagnosis and management of this clinical entity. Pediatricians should be aware that body packing, regrettably, is not confined to the adult population.
Traub
Stephen J
SJ
Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, One Deaconess Road, Boston, MA 02215, USA. straub@caregroup.harvard.edu
Kohn
Gary L
GL
Hoffman
Robert S
RS
Nelson
Lewis S
LS
D000293:Adolescent; D002606:Charcoal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003415:Crime; D004064:Digestive System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005547:Foreign Bodies; D003932:Heroin / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009294:Narcotics / Q000506:poisoning*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009294:Narcotics; D002606:Charcoal; D009270:Naloxone; D003932:Heroin