Caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, the TB (tuberculosis) diseases severely affects and damages the lungs of a person. Not only can the disease be prevented, it may be cured as well. TB spreads through air from one person to another. The germs causing TB are propelled into the air when a person with the disease coughs, sneezes, or spits. Any person who breathes in even the slightest bit of the germ runs the risk of being afflicted by the disease.

The bacteria causing the disease were discovered by Dr. Robert Koch on March 24, 1882 and the disease prevails all over the world. Lower socio-economic status and large cities which are overcrowded are seen as the main reasons behind the spread of the disease in some of the developing and underdeveloped countries. The disease occurs in regions with tropical and temperate climate.