Hello, I can understand your concern. Lingual tonsils are lymphatic tissues that are situated on either side at the base of the tongue. They help to protect body from pathogenic bacteria and viruses as the tonsils in the throat. However, sometimes they might be infected causing extreme pain during swallowing and discomfort due to swollen mass at the base of the tongue. Occasional infections can be treated with antibiotics and steroids as has been treated with this episode. If the infection is recurrent and causing too much trouble, then the lingual tonsils should be removed surgically under general anesthesia. You can consult an ENT specialist or an oral surgeon for the discussion regarding the surgical procedure. I hope this information helps you. Thank you for choosing HealthcareMagic. I wish you feel better soon. Best, Dr. Viraj Shah