Bahima disease

• Bahima disease is caused by iron deficiency in babies which are fed exclusively on cow's milk.

People affected

• Bahima disease affects children from the Hamitic Bahima people, is characterized by a tall, tower-shaped skull, often with bosses, which is recognized and treated with branding in early life.

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Diagnosis

• Radiologic imaging shows diploic widening and "hair-on-end" spiculation.

Conditions to exclude

• There is no evidence of thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, or other hemolytic anemia.

Anemia

• All three cases reviewed in the literature had some degree of anemia, likely caused by iron deficiency.
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Cause

• It is suggested that the practice of feeding children mostly cow's milk could lead to chronic iron deficiency and the development of Bahima disease.

Clinical features

• It is characterized by a tower-shaped skull, dilatation of the diploe, and no signs of thalassaemia, sickle cell or other haemolytic anaemia.

Geographic distribution

• It occurs most frequently in the Bahima people in Ankole, Uganda, from which it derives its name.

Bahima tribe

• The Bahima are a tribe that relies heavily on herding of long-horned cattle for survival.

External links

• J-Stor

Bahima disease Resources
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