Rising infections following a common cold and cough, and even pollution are causing ear problems, with the BMC-run Seth Atmasingh Jessasingh Bankebihari Ear-Nose-Throat Hospital in Fort performing over 1,600 ear surgeries since its inception 15 months ago. The hospital has been receiving 100 such cases every month. Doctors say most of these cases are due to ear infections caused by a cold. The rising usage of headphones is also considered one of the causes for ear infections. They say pollution, too, is a contributor.

Don't ignore that ear pain
One often overlooks pain in the ears, especially when one has a cold. But doctors warn that it could lead to deafness. Ramesh Nair, a 12-year-old resident of Sion, had developed a seasonal viral infection, common during winter. Besides fever, he also had body ache, and soon developed pain in his ears.