Final answer:
Dysentery is the term for loose watery stool containing blood and/or mucus, often caused by specific infectious agents, and it involves inflammation of the colon which leads to watery stools.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for loose watery stool containing blood and/or mucus is dysentery. Dysentery is a form of severe diarrhea with a presence of blood and mucus in the stool, often caused by an infection involving specific types of bacteria like Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella, or parasites such as Entamoeba histolytica. When someone has dysentery, the colon becomes inflamed, known as colitis, which disrupts its ability to reabsorb water efficiently, resulting in watery stools.
The damage to the colon's epithelial cells can cause bleeding and an excess of mucus. A physician may order a stool sample to identify the causative agents and check for the presence of blood to diagnose and treat the problem effectively.