1. What is the Mosteller Formula?

The Mosteller formula is a simple and widely used method for calculating body surface area (BSA) from a person's weight and height. It provides an estimate of the total surface area of the human body.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

• \( W \) — Weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( H \) — Height in centimeters (cm)
• \( BSA \) — Body surface area in square meters (m²)

Explanation: The formula calculates the square root of the product of weight and height divided by 3600.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used in many medical applications including chemotherapy dosing, fluid requirements calculation, and determining cardiac index. It's considered more accurate than body weight alone for many medical purposes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use Mosteller formula instead of others?
A: The Mosteller formula is simple, validated, and widely accepted in clinical practice. It provides results comparable to more complex formulas.

Q2: What are normal BSA values?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women, but varies with body size.

Q3: When is BSA used in medicine?
A: Commonly used for chemotherapy dosing, calculating cardiac index, and determining nutritional requirements.

Q4: Are there limitations to this formula?
A: Less accurate in extremes of body size (very obese or very thin individuals) and in children.

Q5: Should this be used for pediatric dosing?
A: While BSA is often used for pediatric dosing, specific pediatric formulas may be more appropriate in some cases.