Why take them out?
A tonsillectomy (an operation to remove the tonsils) is only recommended if they are doing more harm than good. The main indication is a history of frequent tonsillitis requiring repeated courses of antibiotics and time off school or work.
Another reason for removing the tonsils is if they are large and block the airway. This may manifest as significant snoring at night with brief pauses in the breathing pattern. A peritonsillar abscess, which is an abscess that develops alongside the tonsil, as a result of tonsil infection is most unpleasant. People who have had a peritonsillar abscess therefore often choose to have a tonsillectomy to prevent having another.