What is the expected size of the liver during an acute hepatitis infection?

During an acute hepatitis infection, the expected size of the liver is enlarged. This enlargement, known as hepatomegaly, occurs due to the inflammatory response triggered by the infectious agents that cause hepatitis, such as viruses, toxins, or autoimmune processes. Inflammation leads to the accumulation of immune cells, fluid, and sometimes cell debris within the liver tissue, resulting in an increase in liver volume.

The other options do not reflect the typical findings associated with acute hepatitis. A shrunken liver would suggest chronic conditions or cirrhosis rather than acute hepatitis, while a normal size could be possible in very early stages but is not typical as the process tends to cause noticeable enlargement. Lastly, variable size might apply in certain atypical cases or differing patient responses, but in a standard clinical scenario, one would expect hepatomegaly. Thus, the enlargement of the liver is a key pathological feature in cases of acute inflammation seen in hepatitis, making it the correct answer.