MADISON - Diane Heatley, associate professor of surgery and pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, used to perform a lot of sinus surgery on children.

More than 14 years ago, a nurse in the recovery room wondered why she and other doctors had to perform so much surgery. She told Heatley about neti pots, miniature teakettles which uses saline solution to flush the nasal passages by the tilting the device into the nostrils.

Flushing the nasal passages with a salt solution, or nasal irrigation, has been used for centuries.

Heatley began sending her pediatric patients to a natural pharmacy in Madison to buy a neti pot before considering surgery.

"When we started these kids on neti pots, the number of surgeries dropped in half," Heatley said. "It made a huge difference.

"Now I rarely do sinus surgery on otherwise healthy children," she said.

As a result, Heatley developed a nasal wash system, SinuCleanse, for adults in 1997 and then for children a year ago. The products are sold at pharmacies nationwide.

"Saline washes have proven to be effective for easing nasal discomfort, congestion, allergies, sinus headaches and runny noses," said Heatley, a children's ear, nose and throat specialist.

Heatley said research studies have shown that sinus flushing can reduce the severity of symptoms associated with sinus infections.

"It's inexpensive, natural and safe, and really cleans the filter, which is what your nose is," Heatley said. "It's a good way to promote good nasal and sinus health."

Heatley said neti pots work as well as other nasal wash systems.

"Lots of studies have compared neti pots with squeeze bottles and found they both work great," Heatley said. "What people try first and like is what they usually stick with in the end."

But she said a neti pot or squeeze bottle is not easy for young children to do and is not possible with infants.

So Heatley developed Kids Mist, a spray bottle design especially for newborns and young children. The bottle produces an ultra-fine mist that is easy to aim and does not require touching of the inside of the nose, which is especially sensitive in young children and infants and which can lead to swelling of nasal tissues, she said.

"Kids Mist solves this problem by dispensing a pre-measured and precise dose of saline solution through a fine mist," Heatley said. "This helps thin and loosen mucous discharge and alleviates inflammation and irritation of nasal membranes.

"It provides parents with a safe and effective alternative to cough and cold medications that should not be used on children and that had never been shown to be effective for this age group," she said.

During the flu season, the nasal wash system can help keep children healthier, Heatley said.

"I find it is especially helpful with post nasal drop," she said.