Your tonsils are the oval-shaped lumps of tissue that lie on both sides of the back of the throat. Sometimes tonsils can become inflamed (red and swollen with white patches on them) as the result of a bacterial or viral infection; this is known as tonsillitis.

 

If you have tonsillitis, you will have a very sore throat and maybe swollen glands on the side of your neck, a fever, headache or changes to your voice. In some cases, pus can be seen on the tonsils.

 

Tonsillitis mostly occurs in children and  can be a recurrent condition (it keeps coming back). If the tonsillitis is caused by bacteria, antibiotics will be prescribed. If the tonsillitis is caused by a virus, treatment will usually consist of medications to relieve symptoms such as a pain killer.

 

Adenoids are made of the same tissue as tonsils but sit in the back of the nose where they are not easily seen. They usually shrink away in early adolesence and mainly just cause problems in children. They can also become infected or enlarged like tonsils. In childhood, if tonsillitis is present then the adenoids are typically infected at the same time.

 

If tonsillitis occurs often over a period of two or more years, then surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids (tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy) may be considered.

 

Both tonsils and adenoids might become enlarged to the point where they cause problems with breathing during sleep. If so, children might be loud snorers with an interrupted sleep pattern and are excessively tired during the day with poor concentration. There may also be pauses in their breathing during sleep (sleep apnoea). These problems are treated with removal of the tonsils and adenoids.