Question: My son has a history of hydrocephalus. He is autistic so it's hard to tell when something is wrong. He has been extremely irritable and emotional over the last couple of weeks, his appetite has decreased, and he's not sleeping well. He told me this morning that his head hurt, but then he got distracted and I can't seem to get a strait answer out of him now. He is 4 years old. Should I take my son to the ER or wait for his follow-up in July?

He has no shunt. In 2012 he had an EVT. He is able to perform daily tasks. His autism is on the high functioning. He is not on any medication. I have not noticed any neck stiffness and he doesn't seem to experience discomfort when I ask him to turn his head any which way. He's not usually irritable. He likes to get his way like any normal 4 year old and he throws temper tantrums occasionally, but here lately things seem to upset him more than normal and he just seems so tired, but he doesn't sleep a lot. He won't take naps at all, and I'll get up at 3 am just to check on everyone, because I'm mom, and he'll be awake just laying in bed and then when I wake for good around 6:30 he's awake.
He also loves to eat and his appetite seems to have decreased. We've had scares before. The hydrocephalus was due to head trauma as a baby. Given his past its difficult to distinguish normal growing older signs from what we fear may be hydrocephalus recurring.

his previous incision scar is swollen...should that concern me?