TV presenter and singer Coleen Nolan has spoken about her son's battle with swine flu.

Coleen was terrified that 16-year-old Jake could die from the flu virus, which he was diagnosed with whilst visiting his father, Shane Richie, in London earlier this week. Because Jake suffers from asthma, the effects of the flu could have been devastating.

Coleen told The Mirror that she had researched the disease on the Internet following Jake's diagnosis. She told the newspaper: “What frightens me is that all the people who have died had underlying health problems. Teenage boys are apparently also most at risk, so it’s been a terrible worry.”

Jake is currently in quarantine and recovering from the flu virus in his bedroom. The rest of the family, however, are awaiting the results of tests to discover whether they have also contracted it. Coleen and Jake live with her husband Ray, their eight-year-old daughter Ciara and Coleen's son Shane Jr, 21.

After seeking medical advice, Coleen said: “My GP says all the rest of us can do is wait to see if we develop symptoms. I’m not scared for myself but I’m worried about Ciara getting it because she is so small and slight."

Coleen admitted that she had earlier dismissed the likelihood of Jake having swine flu when he complained of feeling ill towards the end of last week, putting it down to a dose of 'man flu.' “I feel so guilty about telling Jake he couldn’t possibly have swine flu when he did. Thank goodness he seems to be finally on the mend,” she said.

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