Question

Body surface area (BSA) is used to calculate medication or fluid replacement for a patient. The BSA can be estimated by using a body surface nomogram or by using the Mosteller formula, the formula Is the most accurate method of calculating body surface area. 24.1) Explain in 30 words why it is important to titrate medicines for children. You didn't enter the answer. 24.2) Demonstrate your ability to use the BSA formula for the following scenario. Formula BSA(m2) =√height (cm) x weight (kg) / 3600 Nicholas is a 13-year-old boy who weighs 56 kg and is 164 cm high. Work out his BSA using the formula above.

Answer 1

The main reason is that different kids can respond very differently to the same medication.The best approach to finding the right dose is starting at the low end of the recommended range and increasing in small increments at about weekly intervals,until an effective level is reached.The childs response is monitored at each step.This process is called titration,and takes weeks,or even months.Some medications have sideffects that starts showing only in the beginning of treatment and they are harder to tolerate if the dose is pushed too quickly.

Mosteller formula takes the square root of the height in cm multiplied by the weight in kg divided by 3600

Height=164cm

Weight=56kg

BSA =square root of height in cm*weight in kg/3600

(164cm*56Kg)/3600=2.55

Square root of 2.55=1.59m^2