Chronic widespread pain, the cardinal symptom of fibromyalgia (FM), is common in the general population, with comparable prevalence
rates of 7.3% to 12.9% across different countries. The prevalence of FM in the general population was reported to range from
0.5% to 5% and up to 15.7% in the clinic. The common association of FM with other rheumatic disorders, chronic viral infections,
and systemic illnesses has been well documented in several studies. Up to 65% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
meet the criteria for FM. FM is considered a member of the family of functional somatic syndromes. These syndromes are very
common and share a similar phenomenology, epidemiologic characteristics, high rates of occurrence, a common pathogenesis,
and similar management strategies. A high prevalence of FM was demonstrated among relatives of patients with FM and it may
be attributed to genetic and environmental factors.