Researchers are to study whether taking paracetemol to treat a high temperature does flu sufferers more harm than good.
Medical Research Institute spokesperson Dr Kyle Perrin says that studies carried out on animals have found that the flu is worse when medicines such as paracetamol are given.
However, there has never been a study on the effect on people, he says.
He says 80 Wellington patients will be admitted during the first flu epidemic of the year to assess this.
Dr Perrin says many human influenza viruses are killed at temperatures above 38°C, meaning it may be better to let the fever run its course as the body's natural defence to fight infection.
To lower temperature, he says, may let the virus run away with itself.
The study will be carried out at New Zealand's first inpatient clinical trials unit, which opened on Friday at Wellington Hospital.
The director of the Medical Research Institute, Richard Beasley, says the opening of 14-bed unit will have practical benefits for patients and others.
The clinical trials unit is sited in a former cardiac care unit at Wellington hospital.
Professor Beasley says it will bring research more in line with clinical practice and give Wellingtonians better access to the latest medicines in a safe way.