1. What is Body Surface Area?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of the human body. It's an important measurement in medicine, particularly for calculating drug dosages and medical indicators.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

• \( W \) — Weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( H \) — Height in centimeters (cm)

Explanation: This formula provides a simple way to estimate body surface area from weight and height measurements.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used to calculate medical parameters like cardiac index, chemotherapy dosages, and glomerular filtration rate. It's more accurate than body weight alone for these 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 BSA instead of body weight?
A: BSA correlates better with many physiological phenomena that don't scale directly with body weight.

Q2: What are normal BSA values?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women.

Q3: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, other formulas include Du Bois, Haycock, and Gehan-George formulas, but Mosteller is widely used for its simplicity.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The Mosteller formula is accurate to within 1-2% of more complex formulas in most individuals.

Q5: Should this be used for pediatric patients?
A: Yes, BSA is particularly important in pediatric dosing, though some medications may use weight-based dosing instead.