727-330-3844CIRS
CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE SYNDROME (CIRS)
WHAT IS CIRS?
CIRS, also known as chronic inflammatory response syndrome, is an assortment of chronic symptoms which are based on inflammatory responses. These responses are triggered due to contact with biotoxins; for example, mold exposure from water-damaged buildings. For this reason, CIRS is occasionally called “biotoxin illness” or “mold illness”. In fact, it was originally believed that mold exposure was solely to blame for this condition. However, upon further research, medical experts theorize that bacteria, fungus, and various viral infections are also linked to the development of chronic inflammatory response syndrome.
It was from the fundamental need to classify the pathology of biotoxin and mold-related illnesses that the term CIRS was coined. Ritchie Shoemaker, MD. created the medical acronym to properly define the collection of symptoms. And while the panel of specialized lab markers for biotoxin / mold illness can differ greatly, vital clinical information, which may be used for tracking progress over time and treatment protocols, is usually included. Sadly, it is not uncommon for CIRS to be misdiagnosed or under diagnosed. For patients and physicians alike, managing a syndrome as complex as CIRS is quite the conundrum. This is partially due to chronic inflammatory response syndrome overlapping and even mirroring symptoms connected to other chronic infections, such as some auto immune disorders, ehrlichiosis, and lyme disease.
RECOGNIZING CIRS
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CIRS?
In general, the signs and symptoms of chronic inflammatory response syndrome are environmental sensitivity, exhaustion, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, insomnia, and weakness, as well as potential multiple diagnoses from various medical professionals. However, a seemingly endless supply of more definitive symptoms has also been observed in CIRS patients, which have been properly classified by whatever system of the body they afflict. These categories include:
1. DIGESTIVE / LIVER / URINARY SYMPTOMS
2. EAR / EYE / NOSE / THROAT SYMPTOMS
DIGESTIVE / LIVER / URINARY SYMPTOMS
Abdominal Pain
Bile Reflux
Constipation
Diarrhea
Metallic Taste In The Mouth
Nausea
Urinary Frequency
Vomiting
Weight Gain
Weight Loss
EAR / EYE / NOSE / THROAT SYMPTOMS
Blurred / Hazy Vision
Burning In The Throat
Dark / Puffy Circles Below The Eyes
Dizziness
Hearing Loss
Laryngitis / Raspy Voice
Light Sensitivity In The Eyes
Nasal / Sinus Congestion
Nasal Polyps
Night Blindness
Nose Bleeds
Odor Sensitivity
Ringing In The Ears
Sore Throat
Tearing Easily In The Eyes
Vocal Cord Polyps
ENDOCRINE / IMMUNE / NERVOUS SYMPTOMS
Anxiety
Decreased Learning Ability
Disorientation
Dizziness
Extreme Thirst
Forgetfulness
Headaches
Inability To Remember Names / Words
Irritability
Lack Of Sex Drive
Low Blood Pressure
Mental Confusion
Mood Swings
Numbness
Painful & Swollen Lymph Nodes
Parkinson’s-Like Symptoms
Poor Body Temperature Regulation
Poor Concentration
Poor Short-Term Memory
Poor Word Recollection
Tingling
Tremors
Vertigo
EXTREMITY SYMPTOMS
Cold Feet / Hands
Discolored Feet / Hands, e.g., Red & White Mottling
Finger / Toe Clawing
Numbness In Part Of The Body, e.g., Feet “Going To Sleep”
Shaking In The Hands
Tingling
HEART / LUNGS SYMPTOMS
Asthma
Coughing
Edema / Swelling
Heart Palpitations
Intermittent Heart Pounding
Shortness Of Breath During Exercise
Tachycardia (Rapid Heart Beat) During Exercise
Wheezing
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYMPTOMS
Burning Pain
Charley Horse
Feet / Toes Curling Up
Fleeting / Transitory Pain
Hands Clawing / Curling Up
Ice Pick Sharp Pain
Joint Pain
Morning Stiffness
Muscle Aches
Muscle Cramps
Muscle Spasms
Muscle Weakness
Shooting Pain
Stabbing Pain
Tics
SKIN SYMPTOMS
Bruising Easily
Bumpy Skin
Burning Sensations
Cherry Hemangiomas
Facial Redness
Itchy Pimples
Itchy Skin
Night Sweats
Overeactive Skin, e.g., Skin Reacting To The Sun, Even Through Clothing
Peeling Skin
Sensation Of Bugs Crawling On The Skin
Sensation Of Bugs Biting / Stinging The Skin
Sensitive Skin
Skin Sores
Static Shocks
Thickened Skin
Urticaria (Hives)
Vitiligo
MOLD EXPOSURE
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CHRONIC INFLAMMATION & MOLD EXPOSURE
Mold exposure has been proven to promote chronic inflammation in specific individuals. The infection from mold exposure involves a systemic inflammatory response, which select individuals are highly susceptible to. Today, it has become a well-established fact that frequent contact with these biotoxins has both neuroinflammatory and neurological consequences. Among these consequences include:
Atrophy to certain structures of the brain, for instance, the caudate nucleus.
Changes in white matter brain volume.
Greater blood-brain barrier permeability.
Furthermore, medical experts have also confirmed that mold exposure can even induce Alzheimer’s and dementia-like effects.
THE POSSIBLE FACTORS OF MOLD EXPOSURE
To determine if mold exposure is a potential factor for those that currently (or formerly) reside in water-damaged buildings, further research should be carried out. Some of the symptoms include:
Acute / Chronic Bronchial Cough
Acute / Chronic Bronchial Spasms
Acute / Chronic Bronchial Sputum
Anxiety
Autoimmune Disease
Bowel Issues, e.g., Acute Bouts Of Diarrhea
Chronic Fatigue
Cognitive Decline, e.g., Alzheimer’s Or Dementia
Constant Thirst
Delayed Muscle Soreness Following Exercise
Depression
Inability To Find Words
Increased Urincation
Joint Hypermobility, e.g., Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Or Marfans
Loss Of Motor Function / Muscle / Muscle Tone
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
Peripheral Circulatory Symptoms, e.g., Loss Of Normal Skin Tone On Feet / Fingers / Hands / Toes
Peripheral Neuropathy
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Raynaud’s
Rhinitis / Sinusitis
Skin Hyperelasticity
Slurred Speech
Sudden Onset Joint Hypermobility
