Hepatitis A is an infectious liver disease that is caused by the virus of the same name (shortened as HAV). It has the potential to lead to lymphadenopathy. This condition is acute, and does not cause a chronic infection, although a percentage of patients does go through a relapse of medical symptoms within the six months that follow the infection.

Symptoms

In addition to the possibility of lymphadenopathy, other symptoms may result in a person with this infection. For one, the person might experience exhaustion. Both the urine and stools may have different colors than they normally would. Nausea is something else that can show up in this illness. The patient might lose his appetite. Pain in the abdomen is another possibility. If symptoms do show up, they tend to be noticed anywhere from a half a month to a month and a half after the infection occurs. In some cases, particularly involving patients in their childhood, no symptoms are noticed.

Causes

This illness is brought on by an infection with the hepatitis A virus. Generally, infection occurs from the stools to the mouth, such as by eating food that has been contaminated with the virus.

Diagnosis

A case of hepatitis A is diagnosed by a physician or other individual who is qualified in medicine. Immunoglobulin M antibodies may be found in an infected person's blood. It shows up a week or two after the infection takes place, and may stay for a period of roughly a few months. While a case of hepatitis A is in its acute phase, a liver function test might show that ALT is particularly elevated.

Treatment

No one particular method of treatment exists for patients with hepatitis A. There are certain things that a doctor might recommend to be avoided, such as foods high in fat, and alcoholic beverages. Additionally, he may suggest that the patient get sufficient rest, drink enough fluids, and eat foods that combine to form a diet that is balanced.

More about lymphadenopathy

You can learn about other possible causes of swollen lymph nodes, or go to the home page to read about lymphadenopathy in general.