Common Problems : Tonsils and Adenoid Problems

Tonsils are lymph-like soft tissue located on both sides of the back of the throat. Along with adenoids (soft tissue behind the nose) tonsils help your body fight infection by producing antibodies to combat bacteria that enter through the mouth and nose.

Tonsils and adenoids can cause health problems when they become infected or obstruct normal breathing or nasal/sinus drainage. Recurring infections in the tonsils can lead to chronic tonsillitis. Symptoms include fever, persistent sore throat, redness of the tonsil area, yellow discharge on the tonsils, and tender lymph nodes on both sides of the neck.. In addition to blocking the throat, enlarged tonsils may interfere with normal breathing, nasal sinus drainage, sleeping, swallowing and speaking. They may also aggravate snoring and can even cause an alarming condition called sleep apnea, which involves an occasional stoppage of breathing.

Depending on symptoms and the frequency of infections, tonsils are typically treated with antibiotics or removed surgically in a procedure called a tonsillectomy.