 |
|
Pediatric "Body Packing"
Stephen J. Traub, MD;
Gary L. Kohn, MD;
Robert S. Hoffman, MD;
Lewis S. Nelson, MD
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003;157:174-177.
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.
Patient Reports 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.
From the Department of Emergency Medicine, New York University and Bellevue Hospital and Medical Center (Drs Traub, Hoffman, and Nelson), and the New York City Poison Control Center (Drs Traub, Hoffman, and Nelson), NY; and the Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Schneider Children's Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY (Dr Kohn). Dr Traub is now with the Division of Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Mass. Dr Kohn is now with the Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, NJ.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Smuggling contraband drugs using paediatric "body packers"
Chakrabarty et al.
Arch. Dis. Child. 2006;91:51-51.
FULL TEXT
Body Packing -- The Internal Concealment of Illicit Drugs
Traub et al.
NEJM 2003;349:2519-2526.
FULL TEXT
Children and Drug Smuggling
Osterhoudt
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2003;157:703-703.
FULL TEXT
Cocaine by internal mail
Bycroft
JRSM 2003;96:315-315.
FULL TEXT
Body Packing No Longer Limited to Adults
JWatch Emergency Med. 2003;2003:12-12.
FULL TEXT
Body Packing Is Now a Pediatric Problem
JWatch General 2003;2003:5-5.
FULL TEXT
|
