• Question: Why do we have tonsils

    Asked by Abi + Molly + Emily ? to Carolyn, Peter, Richard, Sara, Siana on 13 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Richard Unwin

      Richard Unwin answered on 13 Nov 2015:

      Hi Abi.
      Tonsils are part of your immune system. they sit at the back of your throat because that’s a good place for bugs to get into your body (your nose and mouth) so they’re kind of a first line of defence and stop infection reaching the rest of your body. If they get swollen often, they can be removed (I had mine taken out when I was 12), although I think that’s less common nowadays as we’ve found out that they don’t swell as often the older you get.

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