Tonsils are fleshy pads located at each side of the back of the throat. Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat — one tonsil on each side.
Where are the 3 tonsils located?
There are three sets of tonsils in the back of the mouth: the adenoids, the palantine, and the lingual tonsils. 1 These tonsils are made up of lymphatic tissue and are typically small in size.
How do you check your tonsils?
To diagnosis tonsillitis, your doctor will:
- Examine your throat for redness, swelling or white spots on the tonsils.
- Ask about other symptoms you've had, such as a fever, cough, runny nose, rash or stomachache.
- Look in your ears and your nose for other signs of infection.
