Viral Hepatitis
- Hepatitis Resources
- Safer Drug Use and Risk Reduction Information
- Missouri Viral Hepatitis Prevention, Care and Treatment Resource Directory
The Viral Hepatitis and Fatty Liver ECHO empowers and supports primary care providers to effectively and confidently treat patients suffering from liver diseases.
What is Viral Hepatitis?
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is also the name of the family of viral infections that affect the liver. The most common types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
Viral Hepatitis and Your Liver Health
Weighing about three pounds, the liver functions as a unique organ with many crucial roles to sustain life. From circulation to digestion, the liver continuously processes the blood used by the rest of the body. The liver performs over 500 functions to keep us healthy including converting food into substances needed for life and growth, storing glycogen (a blood-sugar regulator), amino acids, protein, and fat. It also makes the enzymes and bile that help digest food and neutralizes harmful toxins and waste.