The Helsinki University Hospital (Hyks) told on Wednesday, that it has already diagnosed nine children with narcolepsy this year, and six more are waiting for tests.
In the Helsinki and Uusimaa region, between nought and two cases are on average found every year.

Across Finland, the average is some three narcolepsy cases a year. By Wednesday, the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) had received reports of 19 suspected cases of child narcolepsy.

The child neurology unit has increased the number of doctors available to help examine and care for the children.

Hyks is not conducting its own research into child narcolepsy, but it is cooperating with the research by officials into the possible connection between the recent increase in diagnosed cases and the swine flu vaccine.

STT