The free WebMD Allergy and Zyrtec AllergyCast mobile apps can both help sufferers manage allergies, according to CIO.com blogger James A. Martin. Between sneezes, I recently focused my watery eyes on a news story that said this spring’s allergy season is probably the worst ever. Blame it on warmer temps, lots of late-winter precipitation, global climate change or whatever else you see fit. I quickly searched for apps that could help me manage and even predict my allergy suffering. I found two that are worth a look: WebMD Allergy, a new release currently for iOS; and Zyrtec AllergyCast for iOS and Android. Both are free. WebMD Allergy asks you questions about the specific allergies you suffer from: Outdoor/Hay Fever; Indoor/Year-Round; Food; Skin; Drug; Insect Bites and Stings; and Latex. You just click to select the ones that apply and tell the app your geographical location. The result: A daily allergy forecast, which includes the local weather and graphs depicting the severity of conditions that affect your particular allergies. WebMD Allergy also offers related information, including a “Dust Allergy Checklist,” prepared by medical professionals. An Allergy Tracker lets you keep a daily journal of symptoms, treatments and notes. And you can email your journal as a PDF document. Though WebMD Allergy is free, it includes ads for drugs like Zyrtec, an over-the-counter allergy medication. That brings us to Zyrtec’s own allergy app. Zyrtec AllergyCast provides an allergy forecast for the current day, as well as for the coming three days. Each day receives a rating to designate low, medium or high allergy rates. For example, Wednesday, May 29, rated a 6.3 (medium) in San Francisco. According to the app, the predominant pollens in my city that day were grass, olive trees and privet, a flowering plant. Zyrtec’s app also has an allergy tracker that can be used to keep records of symptoms, feelings and current pollens. You can mark cities as “Favorites,” a valuable features for people who travel frequently and appreciate allergy forecasts for multiple locations. Each app has something to offer allergy sufferers. I give Zyrtec a slight edge for its more graphical interface and extended allergy forecasts, but I recommend downloading them both. I’d also keep your Kleenex handy. (There’s no app for that.) Related content feature 4 remedies to avoid cloud app migration headaches The compelling benefits of using proprietary cloud-native services come at a price: vendor lock-in. Here are ways CIOs can effectively plan without getting stuck. By Robert Mitchell Nov 29, 2023 9 mins CIO Managed Service Providers Managed IT Services case study Steps Gerresheimer takes to transform its IT CIO Zafer Nalbant explains what the medical packaging manufacturer does to modernize its IT through AI, automation, and hybrid cloud. By Jens Dose Nov 29, 2023 6 mins CIO SAP ServiceNow feature Per Scholas redefines IT hiring by diversifying the IT talent pipeline What started as a technology reclamation nonprofit has since transformed into a robust, tuition-free training program that seeks to redefine how companies fill tech skills gaps with rising talent. By Sarah K. White Nov 29, 2023 11 mins Diversity and Inclusion Diversity and Inclusion Hiring news Saudi Arabia will host the World Expo 2030 in Riyadh By Andrea Benito Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe