1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

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 Haycock formula:

Where:

• \( W \) — Weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( H \) — Height in centimeters (cm)
• 0.024265, 0.5378, 0.3964 — Empirical constants

Explanation: The formula provides a more accurate estimation of BSA across all ages and body sizes compared to other methods.

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. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use Haycock formula instead of Du Bois?
A: The Haycock formula has been shown to be more accurate, especially in children and obese individuals.

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 most important?
A: Particularly crucial for chemotherapy dosing, burn assessment, and pediatric medicine.

Q4: Are there limitations to BSA calculations?
A: May be less accurate in extreme body types (very tall/short, very obese/underweight).

Q5: Should BSA be used for all drug dosing?
A: Only for specific drugs where BSA-based dosing is established (e.g., chemotherapeutics).