1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Definition: BSA is the calculated surface area of the human body, often used in medical calculations.

Purpose: It helps healthcare professionals determine proper drug dosages, chemotherapy treatments, and other medical parameters.

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, then the square root is taken to get BSA in m².

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: Accurate BSA calculation is crucial for proper medication dosing, especially for drugs with narrow therapeutic indices.

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 use Mosteller formula?
A: It's simple, validated, and widely accepted in clinical practice.

Q2: What are other BSA formulas?
A: DuBois, Haycock, and Gehan-George formulas exist but Mosteller is most common.

Q3: When is BSA used?
A: For chemotherapy dosing, pediatric doses, and medications where weight alone isn't sufficient.

Q4: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It provides a good estimate but clinical judgment should always be used.

Q5: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: The calculator requires kg and cm, but you can convert (1 kg = 2.2 lbs, 1 cm = 0.3937 inches).