The 2 main illnesses in Japan are the cold and the flu. The flu means you can take a day off work. But if you catch a cold, you are expected to do everything that a normal person does wearing a mask. In this article, we will understand a little about colds, flu, and allergies in Japan. If you are sick, we will see how to face them.
Anything other than a bad cold that puts you in bed is called a kaze (風邪) which translates to a cold. When the flu is bad enough they use the katakana word Infuruenza (インフルエンザ) which can be literally translated as influenza and flu. There are other diseases that can be confused with colds and flu like the famous pollen allergy called kafunsho.
Catching a cold in Japan is easy due to the different temperatures that change dramatically. The Japanese also venture into this temperature change when entering an onsen and using air conditioning inside their homes while going out into the street heat. Even when entering and exiting a train or station, you are subject to this temperature change that can leave you with a cold.
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I'm sick - Doctor and buying medicine
Most jobs and school require the person to present a certificate to prove their flu or illness. Be prepared to make an appointment and pay a fee of 5000 yen. This to get a maximum of 3 days off. Sometimes you need to take days off from your vacation to rest if you didn’t get a doctor’s note.
When you arrive at the doctor's appointment, the Doctor will do some experiments like sticking a cotton swab in your nose. After rubbing the cotton swab in your nose and placing it in a solution for 5 minutes, it will determine the type of flu you have caught and recommend the remedies.
Doctors love to give weird names to seasonal flu that make you think you have a serious illness, they even talk about which country this flu came from. Medicines used to fight the flu and cold in Japan often come in powder form in small packets where you must swallow and drink water.
If you haven't gone to the doctor and need medicine for a cold or flu, you can find these powder medicines at the majority of pharmacies. Just arrive at the place and ask for kaze no kusuri (風邪の薬). And if your throat is inflamed, you can ask for nodo no kusuri (喉の薬).
They can also sell tablet medicines, it is worth ing that many tablets in Japan are weak and the recommendation is to take more than 1 at the same time. They are made like this to avoid cutting tablets in half or taking many with the intention of suicide. When I was sick in Japan, a friend gave me a medicine called paburon (パブロン).
I have the flu and a cold in Japan, now what?
When it is certain that you are sick, the steps are to take the medicine until you get better. People will consider you to have the flu if you have a very high fever and are vomiting. For some reason vomiting = flu.
If you're not nearly dying of a fever in bed, then you have a cold. This means that you can continue your life as normal wearing a mask.
The Japanese wear masks to avoid catching or ing on illness and also due to allergies. In case you have a cold, you should wear masks that are found at any convenience store.
Others wear the mask even to gain sympathy at work and receive lighter services. not to reuse disposable masks, and always change them when they are wet. Avoid touching the mask and that when changing it wash your hands with soap and alcohol.
Another thing you can do to treat this cold is to immerse yourself in an ofurô or even an onsen. The hot water keeps the body warm and relaxes it. It is recommended to stay at home if you are not feeling well, always follow the information from doctors.
Finally, let's leave a list of words that can help you:
Responsive Table: Scroll the table to the side with your finger >>
| Portuguese | japonês | romaji |
| symptoms | 症状 | shoujou |
| the flu | 風邪 | kaze |
| medicine | 薬 | kusuri |
| fever | 熱 | netsu |
| headache | 頭痛 | atamaga itai |
| sore throat | 喉が痛い | nodoga itai |
| muscle pain | 筋肉痛 | kinnikutsuu |
| stomach pain | おなかがいたい | onakagaitai |
| t pain | 関節痛 | kansetsutsuu |
| chills | 寒気 | samuke |
| tiredness | 疲れ | tsukare |
| cough | 咳 | seki |
| mucus or phlegm | たん | tan |
| nasal congestion | 鼻ずまり | hana zumari |
| coryza | 鼻水 | hanamizu |
| burning in the eyes | 目の痛み | me no itami |
| vomiting | 嘔吐 | outo |
| itching | かゆみ | kayumi |
| allergy | アレルギ | arerugi |
| diarrhea | 下痢 | gueri |
