Rains, chai, pakodas, and music feel like the perfect monsoon mood—but an ENT expert warns this comfort habit can backfire.

Dr Meena Agrawal, Senior Consultant (ENT) at PSRI Hospital, says ear infections rise sharply when people keep earphones plugged in during wet months. Constant moisture in the air softens the ear canal’s lining, and in-ear buds block ventilation, trapping humidity. “This warm, damp pocket allows bacteria and fungi to multiply, causing otitis externa or fungal otitis,” she explains.

Symptoms start subtly—itching, a feeling of fullness, or muffled hearing—but can escalate to pain, discharge, and temporary hearing loss. Low-quality plastic buds or unclean earphones add toxins and extra germs. Over-the-ear models are slightly safer yet still risky if hygiene slips.

Treatment involves drying the ear, antifungal or antibiotic drops, and avoiding further moisture. Prevention is simpler: limit in-ear use, keep ears dry, clean headphones regularly, and never share them. A single rainy playlist is harmless—until a trapped drop of water triggers weeks of discomfort.