Tonsilsand the adenoid are small pieces of tissue in the back of your throat.
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What Are Tonsils and Adenoids?
Those are your tonsils.
PhotoAlto / Ale Ventura / Getty Images
Healthcare providers use special instruments to look at the adenoid.
Tonsils and adenoids are made oflymphatictissue, making them part of yourlymphatic system.
The lymphatic system is responsible for clearing away infection and balancing your bodily fluids.
The adenoid is important for immunity in babies and young children.
Thats because the maturing immune system develops other ways to fight illness, so the adenoids become less important.
What Do Tonsils and Adenoids Do?
Your tonsils contain lots ofwhite blood cells.
These function as part of the immune system to react to germs and kill invaders.
What Causes Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids?
Sometimes, tonsils and adenoids can become inflamed while they give a shot to fight off an infection.
Usually, this swelling goes away once the infection is defeated.
Thats not always the case, though.
They sometimes stay enlarged after the infection clears up.
Common causes of inflamed tonsils and adenoids include:
Some children also have naturally large tonsils and adenoids.
Its common for both tonsils and adenoids to be removed in a single surgery.
For atonsillectomyand/oradenoidectomy, youll be under general anesthesia, which makes you sleep through the procedure.
What Is Cauterizing?
Cauterizing is the use of heat or chemicals to seal up a wound.
Its used to prevent bleeding and infection.
To remove the adenoid, the surgeon surgically excises or cauterizes the adenoid down to its base.
When Is Removal Recommended?
The tonsils are in the back of your throat, one on each side.
The adenoids sit behind the nose.
Tonsils and adenoids can become inflamed during infection, and sometimes enlargement lingers after the infection is gone.
Enlargement can cause symptoms such as a sore throat and trouble breathing or eating.
If problems are persistent, the tonsils and adenoids may need to be removed.
American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery: ENThealth.Tonsils and adenoids.
Boston Childrens Hospital.Enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
InformedHealth.org.How do the tonsils work?
University of Pennsylvania Medical School: PennMedicine.Tonsilitis.
University of Michigan Medical School: Michigan Medicine.When should a childs tonsils come out?
