Everyone has tonsils but we usually don't even know they are there. The tonsils are located between the palatine arches, within the nasal pharynx and at the base of the tongue. They represent an important element in our immune systems. Tonsils have the capacity to detect intruding pathogens (germs) and trigger the body's immune response. However, frequent infections in children can lead to excessively enlarged tonsils and associated obstructions in the upper airway.