• Question: Why do some people have tonsils and some don't? And what is its purpose if when you get tonsilitis it gets taken out???

    Asked by elliscwh to Helen, Jenni, Mark, Martin, Stu on 16 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Jenni Tilley

      Jenni Tilley answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Everyone is born with tonsils. According to wikipedia (yes, scientists use wikipedia too!), they are the ‘first line of defense’ against things that we inhale or ingest that can cause infections (aka pathogens). Once contained in the tonsils, white blood cells (our body’s main defender cells) attack and destroy the pathogens.

      In some cases these pathogens cause infections in our tonsils that our white blood cells can’t overcome – have you ever had tonsillitis? This is very painful and make people feel very poorly. It can be treated with antibiotics, but people who often catch tonsillitis can opt to have their tonsils removed.

      So tonsils aren’t as pointless as the appendix – noone really knows *what* that does!

    • Photo: Helen O'Connor

      Helen O'Connor answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      I suffered from what Jenni describes above at least 3 times a year until I was 7 and then I had my tonsils whipped out. But I dont know why some people suffer so much with tonsilitis and others don’t.

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