Body Packing Of Illicit Drugs: An Incidental Radiological Diagnosis In A Covid-positive Patient: Body Packing Of Illicit Drugs

Ameet Kumar; Muhammad Saqib Qamar Ishaqi; Syed Muhammad Shahnawaz Hyder; Aneeta .; Pooja .

Authors

Ameet Kumar Resident, The Indus Hospital Karachi
Muhammad Saqib Qamar Ishaqi Consutlant Radiologist and Head of department, The Indus Hospital Karachi
Syed Muhammad Shahnawaz Hyder Consultant Radiologist, The indus Hospital, Karachi
Aneeta . Consultant Radiologist, National institute of Child health (NICH), Karachi
Pooja . Consultant Gastroenterologist, Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad

Keywords:

Body packing, Radiological imaging, Body positive in COVID patient.

Abstract

Body packing is defined as smuggling of illicit drugs wrapped in water proof capsules using the human body as a vehicle. Drugs can be concealed within the skin, ingested orally or directly inserted into the body cavities such as rectum or vagina. Usually patients are asymptomatic; however, if disintegration of capsules occurs it results in systemic absorption causing non-specific symptoms. Clinical diagnosis is very difficult in these patients without complete history, radiological imaging and urine analysis. In our case the patient was COVID positive and initially symptoms were clinically attributed to it but radiological workup showed presence of multiple drug capsules in gastrointestinal tract. Some of these capsules were showing disintegration. To date there is limited literature available on the CT findings of disintegrating body packing.

Body Packing Of Illicit Drugs: An Incidental Radiological Diagnosis In A Covid-positive Patient