Step 1: The image shows a thick, grey pseudomembrane covering the throat and tonsils, the hallmark finding of diphtheria. Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that mainly affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat.
Step 2: It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The exotoxin produces a tough, adherent grey membrane that bleeds on attempted removal, along with sore throat, hoarseness, swollen cervical lymph nodes (bull neck), difficulty breathing, nasal discharge, fever and malaise.
Step 3: Follicular and membranous tonsillitis produce whitish exudate that is easily wiped off and is confined to the tonsils, not a firmly adherent grey membrane. Aphthous ulcers are small painful shallow oral ulcers, not a membrane. Therefore the lesion is diphtheria.