The Antipolo City local government has given aid to a 13-year-old boy suffering from rheumatic heart disease. According to Antipolo City Mayor Jun Ynares, Niño Espiritu who hails from Old Boso in Barangay San Jose, got the disease when he was a child. "Ayon sa kanyang nanay, nagkaroon daw si Niño ng tonsilitis noong bata pa lamang ito. Ngunit dahil sa kakapusan sa pera, hindi siya nagawang madala sa ospital upang ito’y magamot at maagapan kaya kinalaunan, kumalat na ang bacteria nito hanggang sa kanyang puso (According to his mother, Niño had tonsillitis when he was still a child. However, due to lack of money, the boy's parents could not afford to bring him to the hospital to treat his ailment. This caused the bacteria inside the boy to spread to his heart)," Ynares said. As Niño's tonsillitis caused rheumatic heart disease, he is now required to drink a total of eight different kinds of medicines to mitigate the infection and lessen its adverse effects on him. Ynares said that through the city government, Niño received a blood pressure apparatus, vitamins, and financial aid for their everyday needs. The boy now also receives Benzalthine Penicilin vaccine shots throught the city's hospital in Cabading, which is a big help in preventing rheumatic fever to further damage his heart. "Dinala din natin siya sa Philippine Heart Center para masuri siya nang mas mabuti at malaman kung pwede ba siyang maoperahan (We also brought him to the Philippine Heart Center for further examination and testing to determine if he can undergo surgery)," the mayor added. Ynares assured Niño and his family that the city government will continue to provide him aid until he recovers. He also offered prayers for the child's fast recovery. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), rheumatic heart disease starts as a sore throat from a bacterium called streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) which can pass easily from person to person in the same way as other upper respiratory tract infections. Strep infections are most common in childhood. In some people, repeated strep infections cause the immune system to react against the tissues of the body including inflaming and scarring the heart valves. This is what is referred to as rheumatic fever. Rheumatic heart disease results from the inflammation and scarring of heart valves caused by rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever mostly affects children and adolescents in low-income and middle-income countries, especially where poverty is widespread and access to health services is limited. People who live in overcrowded and poor conditions are at greatest risk of developing the disease. Rheumatic fever symptoms can include fever, painful joints especially knees ankles, elbows and wrists; fatigue, jerky uncontrollable body movements called "chorea", painless nodules under the skin near joints and/or a rash consisting of pink rings with a clear centre (both rare), heart murmur. Symptoms of heart valve damage that is associated with rheumatic heart disease may include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, swelling of the stomach, hands or feet, fatigue, rapid or irregular heart beat. Unfortunately, there is no cure for rheumatic heart disease and the damage to the heart valves are permanent. Patients with severe rheumatic heart disease will often require surgery to replace or repair the damages valve or valves. Depending on the severity of disease, medication may also be needed to treat symptoms of heart failure or heart rhythm abnormalities. Medications which thin the blood to reduce the risk of blood clots may also be needed. In the case of serious disease, surgery may be required to repair or replace the heart valves.