tonsil

Imagine your throat as a guarded entrance to your body. Your tonsils are like two little guards standing at that entrance, helping catch germs and keep you healthy. They are small masses of tissue on either side of the back of your throat, and they are part of your body's defense system.

Although they are easy to forget about, tonsils can become swollen and painful when they get infected. This is called tonsillitis. If that happens again and again, a doctor may suggest removing them in an operation called a tonsillectomy. So the next time your throat feels sore, remember those little guards doing their best to protect you.

Tonsils are two oval-shaped masses of tissue at the back of your throat, one on each side. They are part of the lymphatic and immune systems, which help your body recognize and fight infection. You can think of them as an early checkpoint for germs that enter through your mouth or nose.

Their main job is to help trap bacteria and viruses that enter through your mouth or nose. They contain immune cells that help the body respond to these germs before they spread further. This is one reason they are often more active and noticeable during childhood.

However, the tonsils themselves can also become infected. This condition is called tonsillitis. Common signs include a sore throat, trouble swallowing, fever, and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches on them. Many cases get better with rest or medical treatment, but repeated or serious infections may lead a doctor to recommend a tonsillectomy, which is the surgical removal of the tonsils.

As people get older, their tonsils often become smaller and less noticeable. Even so, they are an important part of how the body learns to respond to infection, especially early in life. So while they are small and easy to overlook, tonsils play a helpful role in protecting the body from many common illnesses.