Final answer:
More liquid stools with mucus, frank blood, and pus are typical of infectious gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, or conditions such as diverticulitis. Pathogens such as C. jejuni, Salmonella, and E. histolytica, or bacteria like Shigella, often cause such symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stools that are more liquid and contain mucus, frank blood, and pus are typical signs of infectious gastroenteritis or inflammatory bowel diseases. These symptoms suggest that the intestine may be infected by certain types of pathogens, such as C. jejuni, Salmonella, and E. histolytica, or could be indicative of a condition like diverticulitis. The presence of blood indicates that there may be ulceration or inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract.
Infections caused by Shigella bacteria, for example, can lead to watery diarrhea containing mucus, pus, and blood due to the bacteria's ability to invade and multiply within intestinal epithelial cells, causing ulceration and inflammation. Shigella-associated diarrhea is often paired with other severe symptoms such as stomach cramps, fever, dehydration, and in some cases, complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome or reactive arthritis. Stool samples from affected patients are usually analyzed for the presence of blood and white blood cells, as well as specific causative agents through serological or molecular techniques such as immunoassays for S. dysenteriae.