The
tonsils and adenoids 
are tissues in the throat that assist in producing
antibodies to help fight infections. The tonsils can be seen on either side of
the throat at the back of the mouth. The adenoids are higher in the throat and
usually cannot be seen.
Inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis) or adenoids (adenoiditis)
is common in children and may occur separately or together. Tonsillitis and
adenoiditis are usually caused by a viral infection.
Symptoms of tonsillitis or adenoiditis include:
- Sore
throat.
- Fever.
- Fatigue.
- Cold symptoms, such
as runny nose and a cough.
- Pain with swallowing.
- Bright
red, spotted with pus, and swollen tonsils.
- Swollen lymph glands in
the neck.
- Nausea and vomiting with adenoiditis.
A severe sore throat with very swollen tonsils, fever, and swollen
lymph nodes in the neck can be caused by a strep or other bacterial throat
infection.
Strep throat must be treated with antibiotics.
A child with chronically inflamed adenoids may breathe through his or
her mouth, snore, and have a nasal- or muffled-sounding voice. In children,
inflamed adenoids may block the
eustachian tubes , contributing to ear infections. For
more information, see the topic Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older.
Surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids (tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy) used to be common operations for children who had
frequent sore throats. Now it is thought that these lymph tissues may help
fight infection and should not be removed unless it is necessary.
