Cheryl Cole in hospital for malaria treatment

The X Factor judge remains in London's private Cromwell Hospital, where her close friend Derek Hough has been at her bedside.

The 27-year-old contracted the disease on her trip to Tanzania with the US dancer and was diagnosed despite taking malaria tablets.

She and Hough spent six days together on Africa's east coast last month following her split from England footballer Ashley Cole.

The singer is reported to have collapsed dramatically with suspected gastroenteritis during a photoshoot for her album on Saturday afternoon, when she was initially diagnosed with exhaustion.

But she was rushed to hospital the next day after her symptoms, including a soaring fever, dramatically worsened.

Cole, who has been filming the audition stage of ITV talent show The X Factor, has now pulled out of work commitments for the coming days on the advice of doctors.

If not treated promptly, malaria can become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs.

It is caused by the parasite plasmodium, which is transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitos.