Second-hand clothes (mitumba) are sold all over Kenya and in fact at almost every considerable shopping center. They are stylish, available and affordable to most Kenyans. In fact, if you know Gikomba very well, you know the stalls which stock designer clothes from Europe at less than a thousand bob per piece. However, second-hand clothes can transmit deadly diseases if due diligence is not taken before wearing them. The clothes should be washed thoroughly and disinfected before wearing. Here are the diseases associated with second- hand clothes.

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Skin diseases

These include diseases like dermatitis, scabies and fungal diseases which may be passed on by wearing unwashed second- hand clothes. To avoid the skin diseases, the clothes should be washed with warm water, disinfected and ironed on both sides.

Vaginal and skin candidiasis

Vaginal candidiasis is a vaginal yeast infection that causes inflammation, irritation, itching and vaginal discharge. This infection can be obtained by wearing second-hand underwear from an infected former owner.  Though it mostly affects women, it can also affect men whereby it affects the head of the penis causing redness, irritation, and discharge.

Ringworms

 Ringworm is a fungal infection that causes red patches on the skin and can affect the scalp, feet, groin, beard and other areas. Ringworms are spread through contact with infected humans or animals and can also spread through infected clothing.Chickenpox. It is also known as varicella. It is caused by a virus and is characterized by itchy red blisters that appear all over the body. It is caused by Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV)  that is spread through contact with an infected person. The virus can also be contained on personal items of an infected person such as clothes.

Body lice

Body lice are tiny insects that live in clothing and beddings and feed on blood. They usually bite around the neck, shoulders, armpits, and groin- places where the skin is usually in contact with clothing seams. They cause intense itching. 

Next time you shop for a Mtumba clothe, make sure you wash it with warm water, disinfect it and iron it on both sides. As a precaution, avoid buying second hand under clothes such as boxers, panties, and brassieres if you can as they have a higher chance of transmitting infections.