iTriage is kind of like having a Doctor in your pocket

One of the great parts about mobile devices is having the world’s information at your fingertips, whenever you want it. Some apps give you way too much information, and iTriage for iOS could be one of them, even though it’s useful information. But when it comes to your health, I suppose more information than necessary is better than none at all.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with sites like WebMD, iTriage lets you self-diagnose (at your own risk) what’s wrong with you when you’re not feeling right. You can search the app by symptoms, specific illnesses, or start with a particular part of your body and drill down to a potential problem.

If you’re a hypochondriac, don’t download this app. When tapping around to find out issues related to headaches, one of the suggested causes was a brain tumor…yikes. Although, if used in moderation and with good judgement, iTriage is a helpful and handy app to have, especially if you have kids who complain of stomach aches or other mystery illnesses that only happen during school hours from Monday to Friday.

What’s wrong with me, Doc?

As with any information found on the web, if you’re having serious health issues you should see a doctor immediately and not fiddle around with an app.

However, iTriage has some interesting features that help you diagnose a pesky symptom and get basic suggestions on how to treat it or when to see a doctor.

All joking aside, this app will guide you in the right direction when you’re not feeling so hot. For example, you can find doctors in your area who perform certain types of procedures or treat certain types of illnesses. For example, I was able to find five doctors in the San Francisco area to talk to about my Alopecia (hair loss).

The app also has a huge database of medications, and lists out possible side effects and overdose instructions. In short, iTriage could really help you out in a pinch with a lot of your medical questions.

If you do find a potential illness or medical condition that fits the symptoms you’re having, the app will gently suggest a course of action and lists out hospitals in your area. In some cases, iTriage will tell you how long the wait is at its emergency room, which sure beats calling a hospital if you’re already in the car on your way to the ER.

What iTriage does really well is pull together a lot of information into one place and makes it simple to read and digest. While you can’t rely on an app or website to tell you whether to seek medical attention or not, having this type of information readily available does let you breathe a sigh of relief.

➤ iTriage