bahima disease bahima disease bahima disease is caused by iron deficiency in babies which are fed exclusively on cow's milk. it is characterized by a tower-shaped skull, dilatation of the diploe, and no signs of thalassaemia, sickle cell or other haemolytic anaemia. bahima diseasespecialtyhematology/pediatrics it occurs most frequently in the bahima people in ankole, uganda, from which it derives its name. the bahima are a tribe that relies heavily on herding of long-horned cattle for survival.