Six Problems with Symptom Checkers

Updated July 2020. They may be a hypochondriac's best friend, but are symptom checkers actually harmful? When we're sick, the jump to check symptoms can be...

Problem #1: Symptom checkers induce panic

When you're feeling sick and you don't know why, it can be easy to type your symptoms in a search engine, but that may not be so helpful. Symptom checkers can feed into our fear of the unknown by suggesting the most serious, and often most unlikely diagnosis, as one of your results. This can lead you to panic when you could've simply seen a doctor in minutes for accurate medical information.

Problem #2: Symptom checkers don't account for family history

Family history is important for determining care and symptom checkers rarely take that into account. Always talk to your doctor about your family history and try to keep an up-to-date written record.

Problem #3: Symptom checkers don't account for regional trends

Doctors don't often have to make rare diagnoses. Much of what they see is common across their patient population. From common viruses to seasonal trends, chances are high that someone else in your area probably has exactly what you're currently experiencing. To put it simply, symptom checkers can't replace doctors' experience.

Problem #4: Symptom checkers are too extreme

Many of the extreme diagnoses in symptom checkers would never come up in a consultation with a real doctor. That's because these unlikely possibilities are quickly ruled out through a conversation with the patient. Because symptom checkers follow strict workflows, they often include the worst possible scenarios.

Problem #5: Symptom checkers can't read between the lines

One of the most important parts of medical training is learning to decode how patients speak. What one person may describe as throbbing pain another would describe as stabbing pain. Through their years of training, doctors are able to probe a bit deeper with patients to really understand what they're describing and then diagnose the patient accordingly.

Problem #6: Symptom checkers can be misleading

One of the greatest misconceptions many people have about their health is their need for antibiotics. Often people request antibiotics when they have a virus. The truth is viruses have to run their course and no dosage of antibiotics will help. Yet symptom checkers often list antibiotics as a possible treatment course for the conditions that could be caused both by bacteria (which would warrant antibiotics) and viruses (which wouldn't). Only a doctor can accurately determine and recommend next steps for care.

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