Tonsils are lymphoid tissues that appear on either side of the back of the throat. When these tissues become inflamed the condition is called tonsillitis. The term tonsils are most recognized by the term palatine tonsils that are located in the back of the throat. There are 3 different types of tonsils, the term Palatine Tonsils, the Adenoids also called the Pharyngeal Tonsils; these are located on the roof of the mouth. The Lingual Tonsil, these are located behind the tongue. The job of the tonsils is to act as part of the body’s immune system and help protect the body against infection such as upper respiratory   tract infections.

People who have their tonsils removed at any age may find that they actually get sick more often. They may not get tonsillitis but they may be prone to conditions such as bacterial or even viral infections, bronchitis, colds and upper repository infections are just some of the conditions that the tonsils help the immune system protect us from.

Tonsils are immature for the most part until the body reaches puberty where they tend to go through some deterioration after that. Tonsils tend to be larger in younger children and that is why younger children undergo tonsil removal. It helps them swallow better and breathe better. But because the tonsils are there to help with our immune system, some doctors will only remove them if they are severely infected and 100% need to be removed.

Most doctors will remove the tonsils if there are numerous cases or tonsillitis, Tonsil stones or adenotonsillar hyperplasic, which will cause partial upper airway restriction or obstruction. Back in the day, it seemed like doctors performed more tonsillectomies but today it seems that number has decreased. About 99% of the time it seems like we are not even aware of out tonsils, let alone know they are actually keeping us healthy.

It seems like a catch 22, if we leave our tonsils in then we are susceptible to tonsillitis and tonsil stones but if we have them removed we are prone to get sick with colds and upper respiratory infections. It is a wise decision to let the doctor make the call for us. They know the risks and the benefits of taking them out and leaving them in. If your situation arises where a decision has to be made, think about the pros and cons of both ways. You doctor can help you make the right decision.