Tonsils are small glands in the throat, one on each side. They are there to fight germs when you are a young child. After the age of about three years, the tonsils become less important in fighting Tonsils and Adenoids germs and usually shrink. Your body can still fight germs without them.
A tonsillectomy (an operation to remove the tonsils) is only recommended if they are doing more harm than good. The main indication is a history of frequent tonsillitis requiring repeated courses of antibiotics and time off school or work.
Another reason for removing the tonsils is if they are large and block the airway. This may manifest as significant snoring at night with brief pauses in the breathing pattern. A peritonsillar abscess, which is an abscess that develops alongside the tonsil, as a result of tonsil infection is most unpleasant. People who have had a peritonsillar abscess therefore often choose to have a tonsillectomy to prevent having another.
