Editor’s Note: Exposure to mold in water-damaged buildings causes a frustrating number of puzzling symptoms and eventually leads to chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS), as explained in the first article of this five-part series, published in the July 2019 issue. In Part 2 (August/September 2019), the authors explained the importance of maintaining the building envelope in order to prevent health-damaging mold from infesting buildings.
By Ritchie C. Shoemaker, MD, Medical Director, Center for Research on Biotoxin Associated Illnesses;
David Lark, Mycologist, MouldLabs, Australia;
James C. Ryan, PhD, Chief Science Officer, ProgeneDx
CIRS Diagnosis
When wethink of chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) in 2019, our initialcase definition has been expanded to include not only
1. abnormal proteomics;
2. abnormal regulation of immune functions and hormonal feedback loops;
3. loss of neuropeptide regulation of the above;
4. but also, abnormal transcriptomics;
5. together with suppression of ribosomal and nuclear encoded mitochondrial genes.
In the text that follows these terms will hopefully become clear and begin to act as your friend. Suffice to say, these CIRS illnesses are all around you; but of possible greater importance, the concepts of 6. dysregulation of inflammation and 7. dysregulation of gene transcription set the precedent for looking at underlying inflammatory bases for other illnesses, including autoimmune problems, diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative processes in a new light.
Clinical Case Definition: Chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) is a chronic illness acquired following the exposure to the interior environment of a water-damaged building (WDB) with resident microbes including, but not limited to, filamentous fungi, bacteria, including actinomycetes and mycobacteria; and their toxins and inflammagens, including, but not limited to, hemolysins, beta glucans, mannans, and spirocyclic drimanes. Cases with CIRS-WDB will have multisystem, multi-symptom illness. Presence of multiple reliable objective biomarkers, taken as a group but not individually, will aid in diagnosis and in monitoring therapy. Markers include genetic haplotypes, innate immune inflammatory elements, deficiency in neuroregulatory peptides or their receptors, dysregulation of pituitary and end organ endocrine factors, as well as clearly defined abnormalities in transcriptomics.

Perhaps of the greatest diagnostic and therapeutic importance is the finding of a marked suppression of 1) ribosomal; and 2) nuclear encoded mitochondrial genes in CIRS patients before treatment.
There are at least 30 entitiesfound inside WDB that individually and collectively can set off innate immuneresponses.1 Indoor exposure will perpetuate these responses witheventual differential gene activation providing a mechanism for inflammatorycompound production in the absence of ongoing exposure. Some of theseinflammatory elements are well known. Endotoxins made by Gram-negative rodbacteria and actinomycetes, long overlooked but of marked importance and secondonly to endotoxins as activators of dysregulated gene activity, all cause differentialgene activation.
We also know there is a pathogenic role for mycotoxins, albeit much smaller than thought just a few years ago. As additional research is becoming clear, mycolactones, made by mycobacteria, also have an inflammatory role. Of importance, are beta glucans, mannans, hemolysins, proteinases as well as cell wall fragments, hyphal fragments, and particulates found in reservoirs in air, including small, fine and ultra-fine particulates. We have not yet defined adequately a pathogenic role for mVOCs (microbial volatile organic compounds), but consensus opinion supports mVOCs having some ill-defined role in creating adverse human health effects. References for these important entities are found in the 2015 Medical Consensus Report on the Surviving Mold website.
Differential Diagnosis, Other CIRS: Even though CIRS caused by exposure to the interior environment of WDB remains the most important source of CIRS, there are other important exposures that must be included in differential diagnosis. These include consumption of ciguatoxic fish found on tropical reefs. We must also look to see if there is exposure to freshwater bodies with resident blue green algae (cyanobacteria), found in every state of the Union. CIRS is also found in post-Lyme syndrome2 and the rarely observed bites from recluse spiders. Of interest, is the discussion coming from the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) community commenting on CFS as a CIRS as well. Traumatic brain injury, including concussion and repetitive head injury from either concussive force such as firing artillery weapons or athletic competition with head contact, can set off innate immune responses that appear similar to CIRS is some ways.
Federal Agency Case Definition: In 2008, the US GAO provided us with a federal agency approved case definition that includes (1) potential for exposure; (2) symptoms like those seen in published, peer-reviewed literature; (3) laboratory findings similar to those seen in published, peer-reviewed literature and (4) response of objective parameters to treatment. This case definition provides flexibility for the clinician but also demands a benchmark of documentation of objective parameters to be found before a person can be labeled as having CIRS or an illness caused by exposure to a wet building.
In differential diagnosis, a process that sorts illnesses from non-illnesses, we willsee normal laboratory findings of ESR, CRP, CBC and CMP. In addition, CIRSusually has normal thyroid functions, ANA, total IgG, total IgE and IgM. Cholesterolwill be normal, and serum protein electrophoresis is normal. Viral studies areoften thought to be indicative of ongoing viral infection but according totranscriptomic data are just telling us about intercalation of viral DNA intoour own DNA. CIRS cases will usually have a normal EKG, normal pulse oximetry,and normal chest x-ray. There are interstitial lung disease findings lesscommonly found in CIRS so that chest x-ray must be obtained and reviewed. Ofpossible interest is the finding that certain cancers are under-represented inCIRS compared to the normal population. These include colon cancer,adenocarcinoma of the lung, and breast cancer (unpublished clinic data).
Looking for biomarkers, VCS(visual contrast sensitivity) deficits are found in 92% of CIRS cases. Analysisof symptoms, using cluster analysis (see Table 1), shows unique findings of 8of 13 clusters found in adults with CIRS. Children are less often found to havedistinctive clusters but finding 6 of 13 is consistent with CIRS in pediatrics.As an aside, reliable peer-reviewed literature3 has shown that CIRScan extend to single symptoms in children with an emphasis of chronic headacheand chronic abdominal pain.
Table1. Cluster Analysis of Symptoms
Individual categories:
1. Fatigue
2. Weak, assimilation, aching, headache, light sensitivity
3. Memory, word finding
4. Concentration
5. Joint, AM stiffness, cramps
6. Unusual skin sensations, tingling
7. Shortness of breath, sinus congestion
8. Cough, thirst, confusion
9. Appetite swings, body temperature regulation, urinary frequency
10. Red eyes, blurred vision, sweats, mood swings, icepick pains
11. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, numbness
12. Tearing, disorientation, metallic taste
13. Static shocks, vertigo
A positive cluster analysis forbiotoxin illness is presence of 8 or more of 13 clusters.
Finding a combination of VCSdeficits and positive cluster analysis results in a 98.5% accuracy shown forCIRS with a 1.5% total source of abnormalities in false positives plus falsenegatives.
On physical exam, it is commonto find a resting tremor in cases with this finding best observed by having thepatient hold their hands out straight with palms facing down to the floor,spreading fingers as wide as possible. Then a single sheet of paper is placedon the outstretched hands; the fine tremor is easy to see. Hypermobility iscommonly seen as well, particularly in those with antigliadin antibodies andanticardiolipin antibodies.
Additional laboratory findingsinclude a distinctive HLA-basis of susceptibility with increased relative risk(RR >2.0); levels of MSH lower than 35 pg/ml; high levels of C4a, TGF beta-1and MMP-9; with dysregulation of ACTH relationship to cortisol and antidiuretichormone (ADH) relationship to osmolality. Commonly, there will be either low orhigh VEGF with one-third of cases each being under 31 or over 86. An abnormalvon Willebrand’s profile will be found in approximately 66% of patients. Nasalculture showing multiple antibiotic-resistant coagulase negative staph(MARCoNS) will be found in the deep aerobic nasal space in over 80% of caseswith low MSH. Of these MARCoNS, over 60% will be resistant to methicillin.
An aside about mycotoxicosis: Since the advent of the shotgun use of antifungal medications to treat “mycotoxin illness,” a re-run of what we saw in the ENT literature of the early 2000s, there has been an explosion of creation of frightening antibiotic resistances found in these MARCoNS, known promiscuous exchangers of plasmids and circular DNA, especially when antibiotics and antifungals are used together. Our antibiotic, biofilm-busting nasal sprays that worked wonders with “pre-2015 MARCoNS,” no longer worked when azoles were added to sprays. These resistances include resistance to vancomycin and gentamicin! There are multiple additional reasons to not use anti–fungals indiscriminately, as will be discussed.
Our concerns about unwarranteduse of antifungals for mycotoxicosis go to more than the current explosion ofdeaths from multi-azole resistant Candidaauris, called a“serious global health threat by the CDC” (CBS News 4/9/19); it goes to claimsof illness using findings of mycotoxins in urine to diagnose the condition.Yet, there is no published control group data (PubMed search 4/9/2019) showingabsence or simply a paucity of mycotoxins in urine in controls compared tocases. Moreover, when we look at the world’s literature on urinary mycotoxins,we find scores of papers regarding healthy people with markedly abnormal levelsof mycotoxins in urine.
As one reviews findings in CIRSbeyond symptoms, VCS, and laboratory findings, depressed VO2 max and reductionreduced anaerobic threshold stand out. These findings, with low VO2 max thoughtto be related to ME/CFS,4 are typically found in all sources ofCIRS. Simply stated, if one is given capillary hypoperfusion, as seen in CIRS,reduced VO2 max will invariably be found. One must also review the section belowon hypometabolism, as our thinking on VO2 max has been radically modified bynew data coming from transcriptomics.
“Of all the things I have lost, I miss my brain the most.“
We also see elevated pulmonaryartery pressure at rest (≥ 30 mm Hg) in CIRS but more often we can confirm thatin exercise, PASP pressure usually rises more than 8 mm over baseline in CIRSpatients.5 This problem is called acquired pulmonary arteryhypertension.
“Of all the things I have lost, I miss mybrain the most.”There is a uniquely abnormal fingerprint for CIRS-WDB found on NeuroQuant (NQ)with published evidence so strong that NeuroQuant is now one of the primaryancillary studies that should be done in all patients over age 7 and under age92.6-8 We have come to conclude that NQ is uniquely able todemonstrate the dreaded complications of multinuclear grey matter atrophy.

Of significant concern is theincreased incidence in CIRS of lateral ventricle enlargement suggesting normalpressure of hydrocephalus but also suggesting atrophy of cortical grey matter.This atrophy extends to grey matter nuclei, which will have a mean incidence of2.4 out of 6 grey matter nuclei in CIRS-WDB. Post-Lyme syndrome patients showmean atrophy of 3.0/6.
For those patients who havebeen treated with antifungals, a total of 4.5/6 atrophic grey matter wasconfirmed.9 I don’t understand taking medications that are optionalat a cost of structural brain integrity.
With an eye towards defectiveantigen presentation, we know that there is no protection from other sources ofCIRS provided by a given source of CIRS. Our concepts of an active andeffective adaptive immune response don’t necessarily apply to CIRS.
Transcriptomics: Perhaps of greatest diagnostic and therapeutic importance is the finding of a marked suppression of (1) ribosomal; and (2) nuclear encoded mitochondrial genes in CIRS patients before treatment. Recovery with use of a published, peer-reviewed protocol (the Shoemaker protocol) has brought new hope that we will finally be able to put aside the longstanding dogma that these illnesses are never cured.
Because of the common findingsof CIRS, with over 50% of buildings in the US reportedly having water intrusionand microbial growth, it is a tautology that CIRS doesn’t hide.
Unfortunately, CIRS isuncommonly diagnosed outside of the communities dedicated to CIRS. It is quiterare, however, to find patients or providers who don’t know someone who ischronically ill from fibromyalgia or CFS. Those diagnoses are ones without objectivediagnostic biomarkers; not to mention none that also guide therapy. Oncephysicians can fill in the CIRS gap that is missing from medical schools andpost-graduate CME, they will rapidly learn just how simple diagnosis is and howeffective treatments are.
Confirming CIRS: Homing in on the case definition, what does potential for exposure mean? Potential for exposure demands objective findings showing microbial amplification with (1) visible mold; (2i) or presence of musty smells; (3) or determination of the types of molds found by DNA testing. We now add measurements of endotoxins and actinomycetes in modern labs with top-flight molecular methods to diagnostic criteria as these sophisticated assays are now readily available. Remember that musty smells, usually stemming from geosmin made by actinomycetes and occasionally by bacteria, are often used (curiously) to support a diagnosis of a mold problem. Use of accurate mold specific QPCR testing is readily and inexpensively available.
Unfortunately, some practitioners still think that air sampling has a role in the medical work-up of CIRS patients. Use of air samples for diagnosis is worse than worthless in that sampling air for spores, at least three microns in diameter or greater ignores 99.8% of the total amount of fragments that cause inflammatory responses! These fragments are so small they pass right through the spore trap devices. Spore trapping then can’t possibly be used to look for disease-causing inflammation. Don’t forget, exposure to small particles, really just biochemicals, means that the bulk of bad actors in WDB are not alive. Please don’t tell me to remediate a damp home by killing spores!
Even though spore samplingprovides flawed information, that procedure is still widely used. Even worsethan wrong-headed data generated by spore traps is the problem that occurs whenpeople believe that spore trappingmakes sense and thatspore counts are indicative of something real in nature. Of note, air samples(1) only done for 5 or 10 minutes in a single-center location in a room do nottell us what has happened to bacteria or fungal spores that have settled outbefore the sampling; (2) don’t tell us what particulates were missed bysampling in the center of a room and not in boundary layers on the bottom andsides of a room; (3) do not separate benign versus pathogenic species of both Aspergillus and Penicillium (these two very large genera arelumped as Asp/Pen!); (4) will rarely show presence of heavier particulates suchas those made by Stachybotrys; (5) will never show presence ofxerophilic organisms such as Wallemiasebi; and (6)without repetition of air sampling findings, multiple times per day in a givenroom for each of multiple days per week, multiple weeks per month and multiplemonths per year, the World Health Organization has declared that air samplingis of no benefit.10
One reason for the commonalityof microbial findings in water-damaged buildings being similar in each of ourstates, together with foreign countries, is that the indoor ecosystem of a wetbuilding is uniquely similar across all climates. There rarely is any wind, andthere certainly is not any rain or frozen precipitation. There is only a narrowrange of temperature in an occupied building and only limited diversity ofvisiting or exotic organisms will be found. Often there will be limitedmovement of fixed objects in a room, setting up areas of reduced ventilation(“still air”). Fixed walls (not to mention floors and ceilings) create boundarylayers of both air and particulates.

MSQPCR (Mold SpecificQuantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a marker of presence of differentspecies of filamentous fungi found inside homes, both water-damaged and not.The fungal DNA present tell usmuch about the activity of water found inside the building. The EPA-developed ERMI(Environmental Relative Moldiness Index) purports to quantify an index ofmicrobial contamination in a building from assessment of MSQPCR measured ondust samples. Initially done on vacuumed samples, ERMI was done later usingSwiffer cloth wipe samplings, with comparable validity comparing Swiffer tovacuum.
Proper ERMI testing demandsaccurate use of high-quality probes and primers for detection and reporting.Laboratories that license the ERMI technology from the EPA must be able to showaccurate and ongoing quality control. Never send a sample off to a lab thatdoes not have ongoing EPA licensing, as errors are routinely seen with faultyuse of primers or inexpensive, inadequate reagents. If a MSQPCR lab won’t tellyou the quality control methods they use over the phone, don’t use it.
A lab test far more useful thanERMI and more accurate as a measure to show risk of recrudescence withre-exposure of CIRS patients to WDB is the Health Effects Roster of TypeSpecific (Formers) of Mycotoxins and Inflammagens, Version II (HERTSMI-2).HERTMSI-2 has been in increasingly wide use since its inception in 2011. Itsaccuracy is based on sorting health abnormalities associated with exposure toWDB to yield five species of fungi that (1) “span the globe,” of A(w) from the driest to the wettest organisms; and (2) show theoverwhelming increase in CIRS when these specified organisms are found. Byrelying on correlation of spore equivalents/mg dust with risk of acquisition ofadverse human health effects, we finally have a measure that predicts safety(or not) for over 95% of CIRS patients entering schools, workplaces andresidences.
We need to remember that MSQPCRwill not report bacteria, endotoxins, mVOCs or any other of the inflammagensfound in WDB.
The scoring system forHERTMSI-2 weighs severity of contamination from 0-10 points for givenorganisms. When we sort these organisms by A(w),we find that the drier-loving species of Wallemia and Aspergillus penicillioides are routinely found in A(w) of 0.65-0.8 but are rarely represented by air samples. Thecommon species of Aspergillusversicolor, usuallyfound in higher A(w) of 0.8 to 0.9, are reported by ERMIbut are never reported at the species level by spore traps. Presence of Chaetomium and Stachybotrys reflect environmental conditionswith an A(w) of 0.9-1.0 are only detectedinfrequently in air samples using spore traps.
A word regarding dustcollection. Swiffer cloths and vacuum samples are equally useful. If you use aSwiffer cloth, routinely available in a grocery store, use a new Swiffer, onecloth per sample. Put a glove on your left hand and wipe in one direction,either left to right or right to left. Use one cloth for all the sampling. Wewant you to sample for dust on the back of a shelf and not on the front whereit might be more commonly dusted. Don’t use window sills or “public” areas,like hallways. I suggest avoiding shoes on closet floors, but closet shelvesare fair game. Bathrooms are best avoided because of the role of watersaturation following showers or bathing. If there is evidence of obviousmicrobial growth, resist the temptation to swipe it, as sampling the blackpatch on the bedroom wall, for example, will skew your sample to render resultsless reliable. If there is a crawlspace or a sump pump or a basement or anindoor spa or areas in bathrooms that are hampered by low air flow withinadequate exhaust, be sure to test for endotoxins with the same sample usedfor HERTMSI-2. Testing for abundance of Actinomycetes species is of tremendous value,especially when Aspergilluspenicillioides or Wallemia are predominant. This is not to say that actinomycetes won’t grow inwetter environments, but they are more commonly found in drier environmentsindoors. They also like more alkaline surfaces like concrete that ischronically moist.
We have seen that the causationof illness from water-damaged buildings is multi-factorial. We can’t just relyon fungal DNA because in a way, what we are asking is, “Can we identifyspecific (only one thing causes the illness) causation of human illness foundfrom water-damaged buildings?” The answer is NO!
Countless differentmeasurements, mostly not available (think about spirocyclic drimanes, known tocause inflammation but for which there are no commercial test available), areneeded for 100% surety. We are less able to measure beta glucans and mannans.Moreover, microbial V0Cs are showing great potential to be a biomarker forwater-damage, but the human health effects data associated with mVOC exposureis not confirmed. Please note that transcriptomics is changing the “no specificcausation” idea. Differential gene activation can tell us if it is likely thatreactivity to mycotoxins, actinomycetes, or endotoxins has occurred.
Symptoms
When we look at specificsymptoms in CIRS, using a list of 37 symptoms (the same symptoms as seen inTable I, but separated by organ system this time) that have been collated fromcharts of thousands of cases and each found in more than 30% of cases, we findfatigue and weakness together with headaches, aches, and muscle cramps,defining involvement of three separate organ symptoms. Unusual pains, sharpstabbing pains, clawing pains, electrical pains, comprise their own category (possiblydue to activity of transient potential receptor vanilloid (TRPV) activity onsensory neurons). Here we will also find sensitivity to the light touch,especially from water droplets in a shower or rainstorm. Our ophthalmicfindings (in addition to visual contrast sensitivity, VCS) are lightsensitivity, redness, blurred vision, and tearing. Respiratory issues areshortness of breath, cough and sinus congestions; abdominal pains and secretorydiarrhea comprise our abdominal findings. Musculoskeletal problems are quitecommon with joint pain, especially with morning stiffness, being routinelyfound in patients over age 25. Of note is that ESR is invariably low normal.Perhaps of greatest importance are the symptoms suggestive of brain injury withexecutive cognitive dysfunction represented by deficits in recent memory,concentration, difficulty with word finding, assimilation of new knowledge,confusion, and disorientation leading the list. If present, think “brain fog,”and get a NeuroQuant.
Hypothalamic symptoms includemood swings, appetite swings, unusual sweats, and difficulty with normaltemperature regulation. Our renal findings are excessive thirst, frequenturination, and curiously, increased susceptibility to static shocks, but notjust in dry environments. Neurologic findings of numbness, tingling, and tasteabnormalities (metallic taste, especially) are common in CIRS. Additionalneurologic problems include vertigo and skin tremor (get a NQ!).
Given that symptoms and VCStaken together (see cluster analysis, Table 1) are so accurate, one mightreasonably ask, “Why do we need laboratory findings?” The answers arestraightforward: (1) we must have an accurate ongoing differential diagnosis;(2) laboratory changes will show interval improvement with therapy or worseningwith re-exposure (often not obvious!); (3) findings objectively demonstrate thephysiology to interested third parties; and (4) provides opportunity forfurther study.
Figure 2 is the TreatmentPyramid. The Treatment Pyramid has also stood the test of time with a 12-stepprotocol providing predictable improvement as shown in at least 30 countriesaround the world and in all 50 United States.

Ritchie C. Shoemaker, MD, remains active in the field of biotoxin-associated illnesses, the focus of his practice since 1997. At that time, an outbreak of unexplained human illness, associated with exposure to blooms of a dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria piscicida, attracted his attention and interest. Pfiesteria was the first example of an acute and then chronic biotoxin-associated illness recognized and published in peer reviewed literature. Shoemaker’s two papers on diagnosis and then treatment were the first in the world’s literature on acquisition of illness from Pfiesteria in the wild. Since that time, other sources of biotoxin associated illnesses have come forward including other dinoflagellates, cyanobacteria and, most importantly, organisms resident in water damaged buildings. Shoemaker has spent the last 22 years treating patients and conducting research that unveils the extraordinary complexity of these illnesses, now called chronic inflammatory response syndromes (CIRS). Starting with no biomarkers and now progressing to over 25, CIRS has been shown to have abnormalities in proteomics and transcriptomics with differential gene activation, the final ultimate pathway of disease production in the world of chronic fatigue.
His collaboration with Dr. James C Ryan, transcriptomist, has led to multiple publications that have application, not just to chronic fatiguing illnesses but to the inflammatory illnesses of the 21st century including atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, and autoimmune illness.
As Shoemaker’s work has progressed on the complex problems of grey matter nuclear atrophy, a small but growing cohort of patients with multinuclear atrophy and cognitive impairment have led to improvements that may have application to illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease.
References
1. Berndtson K, McMahon S, Ackerley M, Rapaport S, Gupta S, Shoemaker R. Medically sound investigation and remediation of water-damaged buildings in cases of CIRS-WDB. Part 1. (Table 2) 10/15. www.survivingmold.com. Accessed 7/23/2017.
2. Shoemaker R, Heyman H., Annalaura M,Ryan J. “Inflammation Induced Chronic Fatiguing Illnesses: A steady marchtowards understanding mechanisms and identifying new biomarkers and therapies.”Internal Medicine Review 3.11 (2017): 1-29.
3. McMahon S, Kundomal K, Yangalasetty S. Pediatric norms for VCS testing using anAPT VCS tester. MRA 2017; 5: 1-7.
4. KellerB, Pryor J, Giloteaux L. Inability of myalgic encephalomyelitis/CFS patients toreproduce VO2 max peak indicates functional impairment. J Transl Med 2014; 23:12.
5. ShoemakerR, House D, Ryan J. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) corrects chronicinflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) acquired following exposure towater-damaged buildings. Health 2013; 5(3): 396-401.
6. Shoemaker R, House, D, Ryan J.Neurotoxicology and Teratology doi: 10.1016/j.ntt.2014.06.004. Structural brainabnormalities in patients with inflammatory illness acquired following exposureto water-damaged buildings: A volumetric MRI study using NeuroQuant.
7. McMahonS, Shoemaker R, Ryan J. Reduction in Forebrain Parenchymal andCortical Grey Matter Swelling Across Treatment Groups in Patients withInflammatory Illness Acquired Following Exposure to Water-Damaged Buildings. JNeurosci Clin Res. 2016; 1(1):1-11.
8. ShoemakerR, Katz D, Ackerley M, Rapaport S, McMahon S, Berndtson K, Ryan J. IntranasalVIP safely restores atrophic grey matter nuclei in patients with CIRS. InternalMedicine Review 2017; 3(4): 1-14.
9. Shoemaker,R. 5/4/2018 Conference proceedings; Surviving Mold, Salisbury, Md. MARCoNSmonsters, antifungals and grey matter atrophy.
10. AfshariA, Anderson HR, Cohen A, de Oliveira Fernandes E, Douwes J, Gorny R, HirvonenM-R, Jaakola J, Levin H, Mendell M, Molhave L, Morwska L, Nevalainen A,Richardson M, Rudnai P, Schleibinger HW, Schwarze PE, Seifert B, Sigsgaard T,Song W, Spengler J, Szewzyk R, Panchatcharam S, Gallo G, Giersig M, Nolokke J,Cheung K, Mirer AG, Meyer HW, Roponen M. (2009). World Health Organizationguidelines for indoor air quality: dampness and mould. WHO guidelines forindoor air quality.
FAQs
Is CIRS caused by mold? ›
CIRS stands for Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. It is also called Mold Biotoxin Illness. This is a multisystem, multi-symptom condition that occurs when mold biotoxins (like mycotoxins) attach to immune cells and don't let go.
What does CIRS do to the body? ›CIRS DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
There is a genetic component that can be tested. CIRS is a brain on fire. A dominant clinical feature of CIRS is the common cognitive complaints by patients, including memory loss, mood disorders, brain fog, loss of executive function and fatigue.
I find the average time it takes to completely reverse CIRS and be back to normal function is 6- 12 months. You may notice significant improvements much sooner than that, though. A newer and promising approach that may accelerate this process, is a new genetic test called GENIE Test.
What triggers CIRS? ›Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome or CIRS is a condition with a wide range of symptoms which are triggered by a biotoxin – usually mold. The term CIRS was coined by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker to describe when a body's immune system is out of whack.
How do you test for mold in your body? ›A blood test, sometimes called the radioallergosorbent test, can measure your immune system's response to mold by measuring the amount of certain antibodies in your bloodstream known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.
Can mold be detected in urine? ›Testing for mold exposure using a mold urine test might seem counter intuitive but it is actually the best way to find mold in the body. Mycotoxin exposure is a serious medical issues that can cause other health problems, Realtime Labs uses small urine test to determine if you have been exposed to toxic mold.
Can mold cause joint inflammation? ›Mold illness causes many of the same symptoms as Lyme disease. Both trigger systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation leading to symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, headaches, joint pain, and anxiety.
Is there a blood test for CIRS? ›Testing for CIRS includes a blood test that covers inflammatory markers, hormone markers and some relevant antibodies. The nasal swab test for MARCoNS is also useful to consider especially if there are sinus symptoms, although this can still be present with no symptoms.
How long does mold stay in your body? ›Those who process toxins well can see their symptoms disappear as quickly as a few days. Others who eliminate toxins slowly can experience symptoms for much longer. They could be ill for months or even years after the source of mold is eliminated.
What are the signs of mold toxicity? ›- Cognitive difficulties (brain fog, poor memory, anxiety)
- Pain (especially abdominal pain, but can include muscle pain similar to fibromyalgia)
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss.
- Numbness and tingling in extremities or other areas of the body.
- Metallic taste in the mouth.
What doctor do you see for CIRS? ›
If you suspect you have Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, it's important you make an appointment with a functional medicine doctor who has experience in working with CIRS.
Is CIRS a real disease? ›Chronic inflammatory syndrome or CIRS is a condition with a wide range of symptoms which are triggered by biotoxins – typically mold. The term CIRS was coined by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, the country's leading expert on mold illness and author of Surviving Mold, to describe when a body's immune system is out of whack.
Can stress cause CIRS? ›That stress combined with lack of sleep can lead to mold sensitivity. When you overreact you get tired, fatigued, joint aches and pains, difficulty with your belly and interestingly, this affects your brain.” Brain injury like a concussion can also leave people more susceptible to CIRS.
Does CIRS go away? ›Those with CIRS will remain sick even after the exposure is improved. They might find some symptoms resolving but not completely. They can go from twenty symptoms to ten, but the inflammation remains. The CIRS patient requires proper diagnosis and treatment and so rarely do they get it!
How do you treat CIRS naturally? ›...
bailing water out of your bucket!
- Check your home and office for mold. ...
- Clean up your air. ...
- Get on a low mold diet. ...
- Use detox binders. ...
- Adopt detoxifying techniques.
Activated charcoal can be taken as a supplement for assisting in the removal of mold from the body. Because of the adsorbent properties of activated charcoal, it quite literally traps toxins (like mycotoxins) in the body, allowing them to be flushed out so that the body doesn't reabsorb them.
How do you get rid of mold in your sinuses? ›Treatments include: Antifungal medications: Some types of infection require medications to kill the fungus. Providers usually prescribe these drugs along with surgery. Corticosteroid medications: Your provider may prescribe steroids to reduce inflammation and relieve sinus pressure.
Can I test my body for mold at home? ›Mold test kits, which are designed to detect traces of mycotoxins in urine or environmental dust samples, can be the key to discovering that your home or body is contaminated with mold.
How do doctors treat mold exposure? ›- Nasal sprays or rinses. Over-the-counter (OTC) nasal corticosteroids, like fluticasone (Flonase), reduce airway inflammation caused by mold allergies. ...
- OTC medications. ...
- Montelukast (Singulair). ...
- Allergy shots.
Human exposure to molds, mycotoxins, and water-damaged buildings can cause neurologic and neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms.
Can my doctor test me for mycotoxins? ›
There are currently no FDA-approved laboratory tests for mycotoxins. Keep in mind that two people may have similar levels of exposure to toxins but very different capacities to detoxify from them.
What are the signs of mold toxicity? ›- Cognitive difficulties (brain fog, poor memory, anxiety)
- Pain (especially abdominal pain, but can include muscle pain similar to fibromyalgia)
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss.
- Numbness and tingling in extremities or other areas of the body.
- Metallic taste in the mouth.
Chronic inflammatory response syndrome is a biotoxin illness triggered by exposure to mold. Around 25% of the US population have the genes which put them at risk of developing CIRS if brought into contact with mold. However, you don't necessarily have to have this genetic predisposition to develop CIRS.
Does CIRS go away? ›Those with CIRS will remain sick even after the exposure is improved. They might find some symptoms resolving but not completely. They can go from twenty symptoms to ten, but the inflammation remains. The CIRS patient requires proper diagnosis and treatment and so rarely do they get it!
What diseases can mold cause? ›For some people, mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash. People with asthma or who are allergic to mold may have severe reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung disease may get infections in their lungs from mold.
How do you get rid of mold in your sinuses? ›Treatments include: Antifungal medications: Some types of infection require medications to kill the fungus. Providers usually prescribe these drugs along with surgery. Corticosteroid medications: Your provider may prescribe steroids to reduce inflammation and relieve sinus pressure.
How do you get rid of toxic mold in your body? ›Activated charcoal can be taken as a supplement for assisting in the removal of mold from the body. Because of the adsorbent properties of activated charcoal, it quite literally traps toxins (like mycotoxins) in the body, allowing them to be flushed out so that the body doesn't reabsorb them.
Can I test my body for mold at home? ›Mold test kits, which are designed to detect traces of mycotoxins in urine or environmental dust samples, can be the key to discovering that your home or body is contaminated with mold.
Can mold cause memory problems? ›Toxic mold exposure has also been linked to more serious, long-term effects like memory loss, insomnia, anxiety, depression, trouble concentrating, and confusion.
Can mold in house cause autoimmune disease? ›Can mold cause autoimmune disorders? No. While there has been concern raised that mold in the environment could be a trigger for autoimmunity, there is currently no scientific evidence that mold can cause AIDs.
Does mold affect nervous system? ›
Human exposure to molds, mycotoxins, and water-damaged buildings can cause neurologic and neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms.
Can mold grow in your lungs? ›The mold spores can colonize (grow) inside lung cavities that developed as a result of chronic diseases, such tuberculosis, emphysema, or advanced sarcoidosis. The fibers of fungus might form a lump by combining with white blood cells and blood clots.
Can mold affect your brain? ›Inflammation: Mold spores act as irritants, which can trigger the body to mount an immune response. This can lead to inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation in the brain can impair cognitive function, and in the case of chronic inflammation, this can lead to long-lasting cognitive impairment.
How long does mold stay in your body? ›Those who process toxins well can see their symptoms disappear as quickly as a few days. Others who eliminate toxins slowly can experience symptoms for much longer. They could be ill for months or even years after the source of mold is eliminated.