[Fibromyalgia].

Fibromyalgia is a frequent disorder of the middle aged, particularly in women characterized by diffuse and widespread pain, and tenderness on palpation at characteristic sites, called tender points. Additional characteristic symptoms of fibromyalgia are fatigue, sleep disturbances, irritable bowel and bladder syndrome, chronic headaches, paresthesia, hearing and vestibular dysfunction. The etiology remains poorly understood. Diagnosis is based on characteristic symptoms, presence of tender points and exclusion of similar confounding conditions. Because of the unknown etiology, all therapies are symptomatic. Interdisciplinary combined treatments can relief the pain in about 50% of the patients.