Is CIRS a Real Disease?

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is a real disease. The condition is a progressive, multi-system, multi-symptom illness often brought on by prolonged exposure to environments contaminated with biotoxins such as mold or water-damaged buildings. Individuals impacted by CIRS may experience a progression of overlapping symptoms that affect cognitive function, respiratory health, energy levels, and immune system regulation. These symptoms do not typically resolve with standard treatment approaches and often resist conventional explanations, especially in the absence of infection or autoimmune diagnosis.

What makes mold-related illness, such as CIRS, a legitimate clinical concern is the consistency in how it manifests among individuals with known exposure histories. Symptoms often present in a patterned, cyclical way, pointing to immune system dysregulation rather than coincidental illness. At The Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM), mold specialists and functional medicine doctors are able to identify these patterns. Specialists at COEM, including Dr. Stephen P. Elliott, MD, D.A.B.F.M., F.A.A.A.M., F.M.A.P.S., the only MedMAPS-certified physician Fellow in South Carolina, work to identify potential immune and biochemical disruptions. Many individuals with mold-related illness arrive at COEM after years of misdiagnosis, with conditions treated in isolation instead of as part of a broader inflammatory process.

There is no single lab result that definitively diagnoses CIRS. At COEM, providers rely on a comprehensive and personalized approach that includes both symptom-based criteria and functional lab testing. One key element of the diagnostic process involves evaluating symptom clusters. CIRS symptoms are grouped into 13 different clusters, and a diagnosis may be considered when a patient presents with at least eight of them. These can include fatigue, joint pain, body aches, disorientation, sinus congestion, impaired memory, tingling sensations, skin sensitivity, temperature dysregulation, vertigo, excessive thirst, and abdominal pain. Functional medicine doctors at COEM evaluate these symptoms in context, using a combination of advanced testing tools to form a complete clinical picture.

A variety of assessments may be performed to support a diagnosis. These include genetic testing to identify biotoxin susceptibility, bloodwork to evaluate immune markers, MRI imaging when necessary, and Visual Contrast Sensitivity (VCS) testing to assess neurological impact. Because the condition can manifest in complex and overlapping ways, seeking care from mold specialists and functional medicine doctors at a center of excellence like COEM is essential. Provocation-neutralization allergy testing can also be an essential part of the treatment process, helping mold specialists determine which specific molds or biotoxins patients have sensitivity to and which may be causing the symptoms. The team at COEM focuses not only on identifying the presence of mold or water damage in a patient’s environment, but also on how the patient’s body is reacting to those exposures.

Mold-related illness, also referred to as CIRS or biotoxin-related illness, is treatable when care is personalized and managed by experienced functional medicine doctors and mold specialists like those at COEM. Treatment plans are informed by functional lab testing and aim to interrupt the body’s inflammatory response while gradually restoring immune stability. Providers at COEM focus on several core components, including environmental remediation to identify and address potential biotoxin sources in the patient’s home or workplace, as well as medical detoxification to support the safe elimination of toxins. Dietary changes, such as following a low-toxin, anti-inflammatory plan, are often combined with supplement protocols aimed at reducing inflammation and supporting detoxification. When needed, IV therapy can be incorporated, particularly in cases where nutrient absorption is impaired or mitochondrial stress is identified.

A central aspect of treatment at COEM is the Biodetoxification Program, a medically supervised approach that helps patients eliminate accumulated mold-related toxins without overwhelming detox pathways. Since no two patients have the same symptom profile, water exposure history, or immune response, each treatment plan is personalized and adjusted over time as symptoms evolve and lab markers shift.

Medical treatments and medications may also be prescribed when necessary to help manage specific symptoms. With consistent care, many patients report improved energy, clearer cognitive function, better sleep quality, and a reduction in symptoms associated with mold, moisture, and biotoxin exposure.

Symptoms from biotoxin exposure do not always appear immediately. In some individuals, mild symptoms such as congestion, headaches, or mood changes can appear within hours of exposure to a contaminated space. For others, particularly those with ongoing low-level exposure, it may take weeks or even months for more systemic symptoms, like chronic fatigue, anxiety, memory difficulties, or unrefreshing sleep, to become noticeable. This delayed onset often makes it difficult for patients or providers to connect the symptoms to the original source of exposure.

The severity and timeline of symptom onset depend on numerous factors, including genetic susceptibility, detoxification capacity, and immune function. Some individuals may have a genetic predisposition that makes it harder for their bodies to recognize and eliminate biotoxins, leading to cumulative damage over time. Repeated or unnoticed exposures can eventually tip the immune system into a chronic inflammatory state. Functional lab testing is critical in uncovering these hidden patterns. By identifying immune markers consistent with biotoxin illness, mold specialists at COEM are able to determine whether the patient’s symptoms align with what is commonly seen in mold-related inflammatory syndromes. The earlier these patterns are caught, the better the potential for recovery, but even in longstanding cases, improvements are possible with the right intervention strategy.

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) treatment is available at The Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM). For more information, contact us today or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 7510 North Forest Drive North Charleston, SC 29420. We serve patients from Charleston SC, Mount Pleasant SC, Summerville SC, North Charleston SC, Goose Creek SC, Ladson SC, Hanahan SC, James Island SC, John’s Island SC, Daniel Island SC, West Ashley SC, Moncks Corner SC, Sullivans Island SC, Folly Beach SC, Isle of Palms SC and all of South Carolina, Nationally, and Internationally. Patients routinely fly into Charleston to be evaluated by COEM and to enjoy this beautiful city, which is a Condé Nast and Travel and Leisure Top Domestic and International Tourist Destination.