Between my allergy problems and my sinus issues, I had more than my fair share of upper respiratory infections when I was little. There was a period of time when I had one case of tonsillitis after another, and there was talk of taking my tonsils out. (In case you’re wondering how it all ended up — I still have them.)
Tonsils and adenoids are masses of tissue similar to the glands in your neck, groin, and armpits — your lymph nodes. Tonsils are two masses of tissue on the back of the throat. Adenoids are higher in the throat behind the nose and the roof of the mouth — you can’t see them through the mouth without special equipment (like an angled mirror or a flexible, lighted scope).
What do they do? Tonsils and adenoids are near the entrances to your breathing passages for a reason. They catch incoming germs that could cause infection. Scientists believe that tonsils and adenoids help filter germs and develop antibodies. The filtration is most important during the first few years of life; as we age, our tonsils and adenoids become less important to the immune system.
Recurrent infections in the throat or ear are one of the most common problems that affect the tonsils and adenoids. Other problems involving the tonsils and adenoids include:
- Enlargement or obstruction that causes breathing and/or swallowing problems
- Abscesses around the tonsils
- Chronic tonsillitis
- Strep throat
- Mononucleosis
- Infections in small pockets around the tonsils and adenoids
- Tumors (these are rare but do occasionally grow on the tonsils)
If your doctor is talking about removing your tonsils or adenoids, don’t stress too much. These tissue masses are something your body can live without. There are two main reasons for removing the tonsils or adenoids: recurring infections that don’t respond to antibiotics and difficulty breathing due to enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids.