Please tell your host family, host school teacher or LP IMMEDIATELY when you have the following symptoms.
High fever or feeling feverish, chills
Frequent cough
Sore throat
Headache
Lack of appetite
Nasal congestion (runny or stuffy nose)
General body aches such as joint pain
Continued diarrhea or vomiting
Don’t hesitate to tell someone if you feel physically or mentally unwell. They will help you decide what to do.
With the AFS Medical Plan, you will need to pay for your medical and prescription costs up front and then file a claim with Cigna for reimbursement.
Since winter in Japan can be cold and very dry and the population density is high, influenza and colds spread very easily. In addition to dressing warmly and getting enough sleep, taking the following measures may help you stay well through the winter months.
Avoid infections
Wash your hands with soap and gargle as soon as you get home.
Avoid crowded places as much as possible.
If you are coughing or sneezing, wear a mask to avoid infecting others.
If you do not have a mask, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your arm (elbow) and keep a distance of at least one meter from others. Throw away used tissues in a covered wastebasket immediately and wash your hands often.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Influenza vaccinations
In Japan, seasonal influenza vaccinations are given in autumn every year. It takes anywhere from two to three weeks to develop antibodies, and immunity to the flu virus lasts for about six months. If your host family or school recommends that you get vaccinated, please discuss it with your parent(s)/guardian(s) back home. Since their consent is necessary and you are responsible for the cost (not covered by insurance), please inform your LP before going to the doctor. When you go to the doctor, you will be asked about your medical history, including allergies and so on. Please get Health Certificate 3A & 3B from your host family, fill it out and take them with you.
Food goes bad quickly in Japan’s hot and humid weather and there are many cases of food poisoning between June and September. Infectious gastroenteritis occurs mainly in winter. Follow these tips throughout the year to protect yourself from food poisoning and infectious gastroenteritis.
Wash your hands thoroughly as soon as you get home.
Always wash your hands before eating.
Be careful of what you eat when you go out, especially when you are on your own.
Maintain your physical health by getting plenty of sleep and eating a well-balanced diet.
If you get a stomachache, diarrhea, or fever, don’t hesitate to tell your host family and see a doctor.
Be careful not to come in contact with vomit.
HIV and Hepatitis B and C cases are small in number but do exist in Japan. Due to strict controls, blood transfusions are extremely safe. The major causes of infection are sexual contact, shared hypodermic needles (ie, drug users), tattooing needles, and transmission from mother to fetus. Avoid sharing toothbrushes, razors/shavers, nail clippers, or anything else that could have blood on it. Avoid sharing bottles or cups. There are no reported cases of infection through daily activities such as handshaking, coughing and sneezing, insect bites, pets, or from swimming pools or communal baths.
Public facilities, including schools, may have Japanese style toilets (squat toilets), while most homes have western style ones. To use a Japanese-style toilet, squat down facing the hooded end. Some public toilets do not supply toilet paper or towels for drying your hands, so you should carry a handkerchief, a small towel, and a packet of tissues.
Many homes have a Washlet (bidet) attached to the toilet; please ask your host family how to use it, and which buttons to push. Make sure that you do not leave the toilet seat or floor wet. Also don’t forget to close the toilet lid.
Don’t flush used sanitary pads or tampons down the toilet because it will clog the drain. Usually there is a container for them in the corner of the toilet stall. Japanese girls do not wash the used sanitary pads. They will wrap the used sanitary pads or tampons in toilet paper and discard them in the container. Ask your host mother or sister what to do.
Stained sheets or underwear should be washed separately from other garments in cold water as soon as possible. Wash them yourself; ask if you don’t know how, but don’t expect your host mother to wash them for you.
Before using the bathtub during your period, discuss it with your host mother. She will probably ask that you use the bath last.
Living in a new environment can cause a delay in your menstrual cycle, which is usually nothing to worry about. However, if your period stops for more than 3 months, tell your host family and/or LP. The medical expenses are covered by the AFS Medical Plan.