Unfortunately, in many children the tonsils and adenoids can harbor infections and/or block the upper air passages. The most common problems are recurrent throat or ear infections, and significant enlargement or obstruction that causes breathing and swallowing problems.
Abscesses around the tonsils, chronic tonsillitis, and infections of small pockets within the tonsils that produce foul-smelling, cheese-like formations can also cause tonsils and adenoids to become sore and swollen. Tumors are rare, but can occasionally grow from the tonsils.