Vaccine link to narcolepsy

SWINE flu vaccine may have been responsible for a sudden increase in cases of narcolepsy among schoolchildren in Finland, a study has found.

The sleep disorder is characterised by periods of extreme drowsiness, sudden naps, and paralysis attacks.

Scientists spotted a sudden increase in narcolepsy rates among Finnish children early in 2010.

Research showed it was associated with the Pandemrix vaccine, given to children to protect them against H1N1 swine flu.

One study found that the incidence rate of narcolepsy among children and teenagers under the age of 17 shot up 17-fold after the vaccinations.

In contrast, the incidence rate for adults over 20 was unchanged.

The study compared narcolepsy rates between 2002 and 2009, and 2010.

Both studies appear in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE.