Tonsils and Adenoids Summary Your tonsils and adenoids are part of your lymphatic system. Your tonsils are in the back of your throat. Your adenoids are higher up, behind your nose. Both help protect you from infection by trapping germs coming in through your mouth and nose. Sometimes your tonsils and adenoids become infected. Tonsillitis makes your tonsils sore and swollen and causes a sore throat. Enlarged adenoids can be sore, make it hard to breathe and cause ear problems. The first treatment for infected tonsils and adenoids is antibiotics. If you have frequent infections or trouble breathing, you may need surgery. Surgery to remove the tonsils is tonsillectomy. Surgery to remove adenoids is adenoidectomy. Array Adenoid removal Adenoid removal – slideshow Enlarged adenoids Peritonsillar abscess Tonsil and adenoid removal – discharge Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy – slideshow Tonsillitis Tonsillitis Nemours Foundation Children All about Adenoids Nemours Foundation Enlarged Adenoids (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Having Your Tonsils Taken Out Nemours Foundation Post-Surgery Codeine Puts Kids at Risk Food and Drug Administration Tonsils and Tonsillectomies (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Find an Expert American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Find an ENT American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Adenoid Disorders National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Adenoidectomy National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Tonsil Disorders National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Tonsillectomy National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Tonsillitis National Institutes of Health Specifics Enlarged Adenoids Nemours Foundation Hypertrophy, Tonsillar (Enlarged Tonsils) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Tonsillitis American Academy of Pediatrics Tonsillitis Nemours Foundation Related Issues Obstructive Sleep Apnea Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Pediatric Obesity and Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Recurring Strep Throat: When Is Tonsillectomy Useful? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Tonsils and Adenoids PostOp American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Teenagers Peritonsillar Abscess Nemours Foundation Tonsillitis Nemours Foundation Tonsils and Tonsillectomies Nemours Foundation Journal Articles Tonsils and Adenoids Encyclopedia Tonsil removal – what to ask your doctor Tonsillectomies and children Treatments and Therapies Tonsillectomy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Tonsillectomy and Adenoids PostOp American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Start Here Tonsillitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Tonsils and Adenoids American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Diagnosis and Tests X-Ray Exam: Neck (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
