How to calculate body surface area in pediatrics
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pediatric body surface area calculation Mosteller formula authoritative
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In pediatrics, body surface area (BSA) is commonly calculated with the Mosteller formula:
[
\text{BSA (m}^2\text{)} = \sqrt{\frac{\text{Height (cm)} \times \text{Weight (kg)}}{3600}}
]
Example
A child is 110 cm tall and weighs 20 kg:
[
\text{BSA} = \sqrt{\frac{110 \times 20}{3600}}
= \sqrt{0.611}
= 0.78\text{ m}^2
]
So, the child's BSA is approximately 0.78 m².
Other accepted formulas
-
Haycock: often preferred for neonates and very small infants
[ \text{BSA} = 0.024265 \times \text{height (cm)}^{0.3964} \times \text{weight (kg)}^{0.5378} ] -
Du Bois and Du Bois:
[ \text{BSA} = 0.007184 \times \text{height (cm)}^{0.725} \times \text{weight (kg)}^{0.425} ]
For routine bedside work and medication calculations, Mosteller is simple and widely used. For neonatal dosing, use the specific formula or institutional calculator recommended by your local protocol. Harriet Lane includes a BSA nomogram based on height and weight, The Harriet Lane Handbook, p. 972.
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