What characteristic of the stools would indicate diarrhea of osmotic origin?

Diarrhea of osmotic origin is characterized by the presence of excess solutes in the intestinal lumen, which leads to an increased water content in the stools. This type of diarrhea often occurs when there is an inability to properly absorb certain substances, such as sugars or electrolytes. As a result, the stool tends to be watery as excess fluid is drawn into the intestines, which can occur due to an osmotic imbalance.

The lack of a specific smell in osmotic diarrhea is also a key feature, as the stools might be less affected by bacterial fermentation compared to diarrhea resulting from infectious causes. This is why the characteristic of watery stools with no specific smell aligns well with diarrhea of osmotic origin.

Other options present characteristics that are inconsistent with osmotic diarrhea: hard and dry stools indicate dehydration and likely constipation; water and foul-smelling stools are often associated with infectious diarrhea due to bacterial overgrowth and fermentation; and loose stools with mucus can signal inflammatory or infectious processes rather than an osmotic issue.