▁the ▁subst ance ▁itself , ▁and ▁" m uc ous " ▁is ▁an ▁ad jective , ▁used ▁to ▁describe ▁a ▁dis charge . ▁" M u co id " ▁is ▁also ▁an ▁ad jective ▁and ▁means ▁m uc us - like . ▁" M uc in ous " ▁strictly ▁speaking ▁refers ▁to ▁something ▁having ▁a ▁m uc in - like ▁attribute , ▁but ▁it ▁often ▁is ▁used ▁inter change ably ▁with ▁the ▁word ▁" m uc ous " ▁( as ▁m uc us ▁usually ▁contains ▁a ▁high ▁percentage ▁of ▁m uc in ). ▁ ▁D iffer ential ▁diagn osis ▁The ▁differential ▁diagn osis ▁of ▁rect al ▁dis charge ▁is ▁extensive , ▁ ▁but ▁the ▁general ▁et i ological ▁them es ▁are ▁in fection ▁and ▁infl amm ation . ▁ ▁Some ▁les ions ▁can ▁cause ▁a ▁dis charge ▁by ▁mechan ically ▁inter fer ing ▁with , ▁or ▁prevent ing ▁the ▁complete ▁closure ▁of , ▁the ▁anal ▁canal . ▁This ▁type ▁of ▁les ion ▁may ▁not ▁cause ▁dis charge ▁intr ins ically , ▁but ▁instead ▁allow ▁trans it ▁of ▁liquid ▁st ool ▁components ▁and ▁m uc us . ▁ ▁Common ▁causes ▁include : ▁ha emor rho ids , ▁pro ct itis , ▁anal ▁f iss ure , ▁ ▁rect al ▁pro lapse , ▁per ian al ▁w arts ▁( anal ▁cond yl oma ▁ac umin atum ), ▁Less ▁common ▁causes ▁include : ▁col ore ct al ▁car cin oma , ▁ir rit able ▁bow el ▁synd rome , ▁solit ary ▁rect al ▁ul cer ▁synd