Imagine waking up with a sore throat. Maybe it hurts to swallow, or maybe your throat feels a little "off." You go to the mirror and open wide. There, way in the back of your throat, you see white ...

Your tonsils are oval-shaped pads of tissue in the back of your throat, one on each side. They work as part of your body's immune system to filter bacteria and viruses. Tonsils also make white blood ...

Roughly 290,000 tonsillectomies are performed in children under 15 years old every year in the United States. Though the tonsil hospital closed decades ago, tonsillectomies still remain one of the ...

A large study has found that removal of the tonsils as a child can mean that the individual is more susceptible to chest infections as an adult. The study appeared in the latest issue of the journal ...

Tonsillectomies are among the most common medical procedures that children undergo. A recent article from the National Institutes of Health estimates more than 500,000 tonsillectomies are performed on ...

Tonsils serve as sort of a filter in your body. Chances are many of you have had them removed, but two recent studies differ on when and if that’s necessary. Dr. Teresa Chan-Leveno is chief of ...

Viral and bacterial infections, such as tonsilitis and strep throat, may cause inflamed or swollen tonsils. Some infections go away on their own, but severe bacterial infections may need antibiotic ...

Chronic tonsillitis is an ongoing infection of the tonsils. If you have chronic tonsillitis, you may need to have your tonsils removed. Share on Pinterest Edwin Tan/Getty Images Tonsillitis is an ...

Tonsil stones, also known as tonsilloliths, are calcium debris deposits that form on the tonsils. While tonsil stones are usually not a health concern, they are often an indication of poor oral ...

Tonsil stones form when food and debris get trapped and harden in the tonsils. Good oral hygiene and quitting smoking can help prevent tonsil stones. Tonsil stones can often be removed at home using a ...

It is possible for tonsils to grow back after a tonsillectomy if a surgeon has not fully removed them. Tonsillectomy is a procedure to surgically remove the tonsils. Surgeons may perform this ...