Although cirrhosis usually affects adults, even newborns can have complications like jaundice, or buildup of bilirubin in the blood, on account of poor excretion by the liver.
Recycling of that heme group yields unconjugated bilirubin, which at high concentration can cause scleral icterus, jaundice, and bilirubin gall stones.
During the second phase, also called Weil disease, there may be signs of end-organ damage like jaundice, a cough, dyspnea and hemoptysis, reduced urine output and fluid retention, depending on the affected organs.
And, since the liver usually conjugates bilirubin, there'll be increased unconjugated bilirubin in the blood from a less-functional liver and that can lead to jaundice.
Frequently affected organs include the liver, where the bacterial toxins damage liver sinusoids and hepatocytes, causing bilirubin to spill into the bloodstream - which clinically translates as jaundice.
At this point many of the described symptoms start to develop, like jaundice and pruritus or itchy skin, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy leading to confusion, and easy bruising from low coagulation factors.