1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA) Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates body surface area using the Mosteller formula based on weight and height measurements.

Purpose: It helps medical professionals and individuals determine body surface area for medication dosing, nutritional assessment, and physiological measurements.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

• \( BSA \) — Body Surface Area (square meters)
• \( W \) — Weight (kilograms)
• \( H \) — Height (centimeters)

Explanation: The product of weight and height is divided by 3600, and the square root of this value gives the body surface area.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used in many medical applications including chemotherapy dosing, renal function assessment, and determining cardiac index.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is BSA important in medicine?
A: BSA provides a more accurate measurement than body weight alone for determining proper medication dosages and physiological parameters.

Q2: What's the advantage of Mosteller formula?
A: It's simple to calculate and has been validated against more complex methods, making it widely used in clinical practice.

Q3: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, including DuBois & DuBois, Haycock, and Boyd formulas, but Mosteller is most commonly used for its simplicity and accuracy.

Q4: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It provides a good estimate for most adults and children, but may be less accurate for extreme body types.

Q5: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: The formula requires metric units (kg and cm). Convert pounds to kg (1 lb = 0.4536 kg) and inches to cm (1 in = 2.54 cm) first.