Tonsils

The tonsils are two lymph nodes on either side of the throat. They act as a defense system and keep your body from getting infected. When the tonsils become infected, it is called tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is usually caused by a virus, but can also be caused by a bacterial infection. The most common bacteria that cause tonsillitis are Streptococcus pyogenes, the bacteria that cause strep throat.