PALIN MITENK BLOG

By Sara Nathan and Ben Todd

Growing concern: Cheryl Cole's friend Derek Hough was overheard on the phone saying the Girls Aloud star is suffering 'fluid on the lungs'


There were renewed fears over the health of Cheryl Cole last night [thurs] after it emerged the stricken star has 'fluid on her lungs.'

The pop singer and X Factor, who is being treated for malaria, has been in hospital since Sunday evening.

The update on her condition was inadvertently revealed by her close friend, dancer Derek Hough.

The American - who travelled with her to Tanzania, where she picked up the potentially fatal tropical disease - has been visiting Mrs Cole regularly since she fell ill.

Yesterday [wed], he was overheard discussing Mrs Cole's plight by another hospital vistor, who said afterwards: ‘I’ve seen Cheryl’s mum and Derek in there. They stayed overnight last night. I overheard Derek on his phone saying she's got fluid on her lungs.’

Last night, a close friend of the singer's told the Mail: 'She has got fluid on the lungs. She's not good, no. She's still in intensive care so it doesn't look like she'll be out of hospital for a while yet.'

Friends of the singer admit they now 'don't know' when she will be out of hospital.


Worried: Derek Hough wears a frown as he leaves Cheryl's bedside


Mrs Cole, 27, was transferred to the University College Hospital from the private Cromwell Hospital earlier in the week and admitted to its specialist tropical diseases unit.

And one expert yesterday said that, following the revelation, it is likely Mrs Cole may have the most serious form of malaria.

Consultant of infectious diseases at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Dr Martin Wiselka said fluid in the lungs suggest Mrs Cole is suffering falciparum malaria.

That is the most deadly strain of the virus and can cause blood to leak into the lungs of sufferers.

Dr Wiselka added that while Mrs Cole has probably discovered the illness in time and so avoided damage to her kidney and liver. However, he said it is unlikely she will be able to return to work for a number of weeks.


Trip: Cheryl arriving at Heathrow with dancer Derek after a trip to Tanzania last month where she is thought to have contracted the illness


This makes it extremely unlikely she will be able to return as an X Factor judge in time for the boot camp section of the ITV talent show which takes place later this month.

Her performances at the V Festival in Chelmsford and Stafford on August 21 and 22 are also likely to be under threat. The timing of the release of her second album - which had been due in October - is also likely to be under pressure.

Dr Wiselka said: ‘The chances are that she has got falciparum malaria which is the most serious form and most commonly found in Africa.

‘The malaria travels around the body in the bloodstream and can affect other organs like the kidneys and liver. In severe cases it can lead to organ failure and this is how people die from malaria.

‘The more parasites you have in your blood the more serious it is. If it is caught early then there are less parasites and I would have thought I has been caught reasonably early in her case.


Dancing partners: Cheryl and Derek perform her song Parachutes on her TV show Cheryl Cole's Night In which aired in December last year


‘She will be in hospital until the malaria and the complications clear up, which is usually a matter of days, but it will take weeks to recover.

‘There has been talk of her taking a week off but I think that is way too optimistic.’

The consultant added that the fluid in Mrs Cole's lungs was likely to be blood from leaking vessels damaged by the disease.

He said she may need oxygen administered as well as drugs already being used to fight the infection.

He continued: ‘Malaria affects the blood cells, they get damaged and they damage the blood vessels.

‘If your blood vessels leak then you can end up with blood in your lungs. Also sometimes doctors give fluid and it ends up in the wrong place.

'She might have simple treatment like restricting the amounts of fluids she is getting or she might be given drugs.


Bedside vigil: Cheryl's mother outside the London hospital her daughter is staying in recovering from malaria


‘To deal with the fluids she might be given oxygen because the fluid stops oxygen getting into the bloodstream so you need some help.’

Hough, 25, was by her bedside in her private room yesterday with her concerned mother Joan Callaghan.

The Daily Mail has also learned her estranged husband Ashley Cole has also been in contact.

Despite his wild antics with a string of bikini-clad girls while on holiday in Los Angeles, sources close to the Chelsea and England footballer have revealed he has been telephoning the UK regularly to check on her condition.

A source said: ‘Ashley is very concerned for Cheryl', but last night, a spokesman for Mrs Cole declined to comment.

* Meanwhile, London Mayor Boris Johnson yesterday [wed] also told of his concern for Mrs Cole. Speaking on a visit to the West London Rape Crisis Centre, Mr Johnson told the Mail: ‘I’m very concerned about that poor girl Cheryl Cole.’


Phonecalls: Ashley Cole is on holiday in Los Angeles but has been calling the UK regularly to check on Cheryl's condition


source: dailymail