EPILEPSY is the tendency to have recurrent fits or seizures, it's a neurological condition, largely controlled by drugs.

Although there are 420,000 people who suffer from it in the UK alone, it still carries a certain stigma, and, often, those affected prefer to keep it a secret.

But epilepsy isn't an infectious disease, sufferers are not a danger to others and they aren't 'possessed by demons', a misconception from the middle ages.

These days medication can largely control the effects and sufferers can lead a normal life with just a few restrictions, such as being unable to drive.

ONE little boy who is learning all about epilepsy is six-year-old Dean Vella who lives with his parents and sister Lisa, three, in Deepdale.

During the day Dean is just like his fellow pupils at Holme Slack County Primary, Preston, he enjoys playing with toys, he works hard during lessons and after school he loves play fighting with his father, also called Dean.

But at night when most of his friends are tucked up in bed sound asleep, Dean is curled up on the settee under the watchful eye of his parents.

"He's always had bad dreams and initially when the epilepsy didn't show up in tests, he was referred to a psychologist," said his father Dean.

"They thought it was nightmares so we had to keep an eye on him almost all night." Dean senior admits the biggest hurdle was getting his son diagnosed but when the epilepsy was finally recognised last year, it was a relief for the family to know it was nothing more sinister.

Mr Vello said: "In Dean's case it manageable, he's never had a full fit during the day time so school isn't a problem. But the worst part is the misconception people have of it. They assume sufferers fall over in the street and start foaming at the mouth. It doesn't have to be quite so serious.

"If Dean is affected during the day, it's like daydreaming, he goes vacant for a few seconds and just comes back."

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