A brief overview of online symptom checkers
In the present day and age, we would like to have everything with just a few clicks. Be it our simple groceries or doctor consultations, more and more people prefer the use of the internet or applications to make their lives easier. One such introduction in the market is the online symptom checker. However, not many people are aware of its benefits and still depend on simple internet searches to find out what they are suffering from.

What is the use of a symptom checker?

• Any sickness or intrusion of an unwanted element in our body is characterized by the presence of unusual symptoms.
• A symptom may be best described as something that is bothersome to an individual and creates a certain sense of discomfort in them.
• A symptom checker takes a note of these symptoms and presents a probable cause of why these symptoms occur by using an inbuilt algorithm.
• Symptom checkers are widely used in the medical industry to check for the seriousness of the symptoms of patients, and they are also used by busy individuals. This is often the first step in deciding whether additional consultation or medical intervention is required.

Are symptom checkers used often?

• Yes, their use is on a continuous rise. One of the lesser-known facts about symptom checkers is that they are abundantly used by millions of individuals for understanding the reason for their symptoms.
• In fact, research shows that in the country alone, 100 million users accessed a symptom checker to learn about the disease they may be suffering from.
• One of the best things about online symptom checkers is that they may be accessed by the people of all age groups and people from all backgrounds.
• Hence, more and more people prefer to use online symptom checkers before going for a physical check-up as it saves them time and is quite convenient.

Where can you use symptom checkers?
While many people may assume that symptom checkers can only be used online, there are various other places where they may be utilized. Some examples of such platforms are as follows:

• Wellness portals wherein the symptom checker applications may be utilized for reducing doctor visits and even consultations with physicians.
• Places where electronic health records are maintained. These symptom checkers may provide additional support for better decision making at such times.
• Patient education companies and training programs for physician extenders may take the benefit of symptom checkers.

What are the benefits of using online symptom checkers?

• Firstly, online symptom checkers may provide a more precise answer than a mere internet search.
• Secondly, it helps in reducing physical visits and may assist you in self-diagnosis.
• It helps in gaining medical knowledge with a few clicks.
• It provides a lot of accessibility, even to people who are living in remote areas as the internet is abundantly available, whereas excellent healthcare is yet to penetrate all regions.

Which are the top online symptom checkers?
There are plenty of online symptom checkers available in the market:

• Symcat is popular as it offers 71% accuracy in providing results.
• Isabel is 69% accurate in checking symptoms and presenting the probable conditions to you.
• AskMD is a popular choice for people who want to maintain an online profile through Sharecare.
• DocResponse and iTriage are two other options that you may use for checking your symptoms.
• Mayo Clinic and Healthline are two popular health portals that provide you with vast medical information. They also have symptom checkers available for you to know what ailment you may be suffering from.

However, it is also important that you do not get carried away by online symptom checkers and avoid getting paranoid. If your symptom checker is indicating some serious problem, visit a doctor immediately.