Tonsils, also known as palatine tonsils, are a pair of soft tissue masses located at the back of the throat. They function similarly to lymph nodes and play a crucial role in our immune system. When these tonsils become inflamed, the condition is called tonsillitis. This inflammation is often caused by viruses, such as adenovirus and Epstein-Barr virus, but can also result from bacterial infections, including Streptococcus pyogenes and other streptococcal strains.