Introduction

Most of us have problems like diarrhea, headaches or dizziness from time to time. Although they can be unpleasant, they usually go away quickly. If symptoms persist, they often have a specific cause, like an inflammation or injury. But sometimes doctors don’t find a clear explanation. Then the symptoms are considered to be medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS). People with these symptoms are sometimes said to have a functional disorder, somatoform disorder, or somatic symptom disorder. Even though the doctor can't find a cause, it doesn’t mean the symptoms are all in your head or you can’t do anything about them.
Having symptoms for no known reason can be unsettling – but they can often be relieved or even go away on their own within a few weeks. The main thing to do at first is stay active in daily life and find ways to manage the symptoms.
If the unexplained symptoms last a long time, it can become very frustrating and distressing. Then it's sometimes a good idea to get other help too, such as psychological support. Over the long term, medications help very little – if at all.
This information is mainly about adults. Some causes, symptoms and treatments are different in children.