What to do when sick in Japan?

Hi
I have gotten tonsillitis I believe. I want to go to the doctor but I’m worried they’ll put me in some kind of quarantine and force me to stay home. Will they do that?
What should I do? This sucks

6 comments
  1. They won’t do anything, quarantine isn’t a thing a here anymore and even last year tonsillitis wasn’t regarded as COVID by default without a test. Just go to an ENT clinic, they’ll do a quick check and prescribe you some meds. Good luck!!

  2. Just search for and ENT near you and go there. Check if they do by appointment or if walk in is possible. Why do you even think you will be quarantined for tonsillitis?

  3. Don’t worry, they won’t do that! Quarantines have more or less gone away. If anything at all, they might do a rapid Covid test if you have a fever, just to rule it out. My local hospital is still doing that, but other clinics I’ve been to are no longer do so.

    Go to an ENT clinic (ear, nose and throat, 耳鼻咽喉科 [じびいんこうか] in nihongo). Some clinics in my area won’t accept patients without a reservation or at least a heads-up by phone since Covid so when you find one, maybe just give them a ring and ask if you can drop by now or later today.

    You’ll be asked to show your health insurance card at reception and then they might give you a form to fill in to describe your symptoms, medical history, medicine allergies, your reason for choosing their clinic etc. Then the doctor will see you for an examination. Hand it back to reception when you’re done.

    Most likely, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics which you can pick up from any pharmacy nearby after paying for the examination fee (they will probably tell you the nearest pharmacy). You’ll pay for the medicine separately at the pharmacy.

    If they think it needs a second opinion or further treatment, the doctor will write you a letter of referral for a larger hospital that they recommend or of your choice if you have one.

    Medicine here in Japan is usually pretty effective and it should knock it on the head within a week. Rest up and I hope you’re feeling better soon!

  4. I had tonsillitis during COVID. I were never asked even then to be quarantined. They did a COVID test at the time but that’s about it.

    As previous posts states: go to an ENT! If you can’t speak English well I recommend that you call HIMAWARI. TEL: 03-5285-8181
    They speak in English/Chinese/Korean/Thai/Spanish and can help you find the right clinic AND set up an appointment for you. Also they can help you find a clinic which speaks English if you need.

    Good luck!

  5. I had tonsillitis a few years back and stubbornly refused to see a doctor until my temperature was 39+ and I was having tunnel vision. My wife drove me to the emergency room at 10pm and they ended up keeping me in the hospital for a week.

    Moral of the story: don’t wait.

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