Cheryl Cole is in hospital with malaria after a holiday to Tanzania.
The singer collapsed during a photoshoot on Saturday afternoon and was initially diagnosed with exhaustion.
But friends said her health dramatically deteriorated the next day and she began 'sweating and shaking' at her £6million home in Hurtmore, Surrey.
Health scare: Cheryl Cole collapsed during a photoshoot on Saturday and was initially diagnosed with exhaustion - but tests have now shown she has malaria
Doctors took urgent tests and admitted her to hospital.
Yesterday the results confirmed she was suffering from the infectious disease, and she is now expected to stay in hospital for 'a number of days' before spending several weeks recovering.
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Holidaymakers warned to take adequate anti-malaria precautions
If malaria is not treated quickly - but fortunately it was in this case - it can have serious side effects, and is sometimes fatal.
One friend said the star and her doctors believed she had contracted the illness after being bitten by a mosquito during a brief holiday to Tanzania last month.
Flight for this love: Cheryl pictured at Heathrow Airport last month with Derek Hough before boarding a flight with him for a romantic break in Tanzania, where it is believed she contracted the disease
She headed to the African country with American dancer Derek Hough, 25, who organised the break as a surprise for her. The pair have been romantically linked.
The friend last night told the reporter 'Cheryl hadn't been feeling herself for about a week [after returning on June 22]. She was feeling tired and listless. In the end, this must have been the beginnings of the [illness].
'During Sunday afternoon, Cheryl went downhill quickly. She was sweating and shaking and in a bad way.'
Weight loss: Mrs Cole looked incredibly thin at the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards on June 8
Mrs Cole, 27, had taken a full course of malaria tablets. But certain forms of the virus are resistant to drugs.
Fears for her health were not raised until she fainted during the North London photoshoot for her forthcoming solo album, the follow-up to her chart-topper 3 Words.
But sources said she had appeared 'quiet' during the nationwide auditions for The X Factor last week. She apparently laughed this off as 'a hangover' at auditions on Friday.
A source said: 'Simon Cowell has told her the absolute priority must be for her to rest. There is no pressure and no rush.'
Mrs Cole has undertaken a punishing work schedule since her marriage to Ashley Cole collapsed in February.
As well as The X Factor and recording her album, she has been taking part in a European tour supporting U.S. group Black Eyed Peas.
Last night, a friend said: 'Doctors are concerned that her immune system is weaker because she's been working so hard. They believe this may make it harder for her to recover quickly.'
Yesterday morning, even before her diagnosis, Mrs Cole's spokesman said: 'Following doctors' advice, Cheryl Cole will be cancelling all work commitments for the next week.
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