Tonsilitis is an inflammation of the tonsils you have one on each side of the throat and they are oval-shaped pads of tissue. When you have tonsilitis some of the symptoms will have been swollen tonsils, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and lymph nodes are tender on the sides of your neck. You may also experience white or yellow coating on your tonsils, bad breath, neck pain or stiffness, headache, and scratchy voice. Younger children may drool due to painful swallowing, refuse to eat, and become fussier than usual. Your tonsils are the first line of defense against bacteria that enters your mouth making them vulnerable to infection and inflammation. Your tonsil’s immune system declines once you hit puberty making for rare cases in adults. Chronic occurrences of tonsilitis can cause obstructive sleep apnea, an infection that can spread to the surrounding area (tonsillar cellulitis), and a collection of pus behind the tonsil (Peritonsillar abscess). If you get tonsillitis a lot you may need to see an ear, nose, or throat doctor known as an otolaryngologist who may recommend having a tonsillectomy which is a very common procedure of removing the tonsils.