Fever Fatigue Sore throat Muscle aches
No, you do not have Mononucleosis. No, WebMD is not your doctor.
The internet has brought us a a vast variety of resources. Endless possibilities. Most unreliable ones that we rely upon for far too much. Take for instance – WebMD.
“WebMD provides valuable health information, tools for managing your health, and support to those who seek information. You can trust that our content is timely and credible.”
WebMD is amazing in providing information regarding many different health information. WebMD also provides for us a symptom checker. Over the years, they have updated their website and has become a lot more interactive.
It takes you step by step, with their dummy human body to your left, you click on what body part you would like to focus on. After you do so, there will be another area in which you will choose your symptoms. It will show you the choices you have made and lastly it will tell you your possible conditions. WebMD makes it clear that “This tool does not provide medical advice It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice and diagnosis.” But how many of us have been in a situation where we check our symptoms online, and have assumed the worst. Seems so naive to do so, but we do do it. Ever so naturally.
WebMD, like any other places of resource, should be used under discretion. By all means, this does not mean that WebMD are providing us wrong information, but that the information that is being providing for us shouldn’t automatically mean we have a disease after we complete their symptom checker. Don’t take granted the easy accessed health information we have provided, many of these things a like could only help our generation succeed. But if you are sick – check with your doctor – not with WebMD Symptom Checker.