Imagine your body is like a big castle and your tonsils are like the castle guards. These are small, soft round pieces of tissue found at the back of your throat, one on each side.
When you open your mouth wide and say "ahhh," you might see them on either side of your throat. Tonsils help protect your body by catching and fighting germs (like bacteria and viruses) that come in through your mouth and nose. So, if a germ tries to sneak into your body, the tonsils help stop it and keep you from getting sick.
Sometimes, if the tonsils catch too many germs, they can become swollen and sore. This is called tonsillitis. When this happens, your throat might hurt, and you might have trouble swallowing.
Tonsillitis starts when the tonsils become infected by germs such as viruses or bacteria.
We all come into contact with germs every day, from simply breathing, eating or touching surfaces and then touching our mouth or nose. These germs can be spread by someone who is already infected and through droplets from coughing or sneezing.
Germs can enter your mouth or nose and reach the tonsils. The tonsils, which act as the first line of defence in your immune system, try to catch and fight off these germs. If the germs overwhelm the tonsils' defences, they begin to multiply, causing an infection. This leads to the tonsils becoming inflamed and swollen.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. Always check with your doctor or medical practitioner about any health concerns, before embarking on any fitness or nutrition programme, or using any medication.